Abstract: Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is an endemic species in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its surrounding mountains, and it is a first-class key protected wild animal in China. Ya'an area of the Giant Panda National Park (referred to as "Ya'an area") is located in the eastern margin of Hengduan Mountains, which is one of the important units for global snow leopard landscape conservation and has significant conservation and research value. In order to effectively grasp the population size, distribution characteristics, and habitat conditions of wild snow leopards in Ya'an area, all infrared camera images of snow leopards in Ya'an area from 2015 to 2024 and the distribution data of snow leopards in different protected areas around (including Dayi County, Chongzhou City, Wenchuan County, and Kangding City) since 2019 were systematically collected, and a systematic investigation was carried out in Ya'an area from December 2023 to October 2024 by using infrared camera technology and line sampling method. The results showed that the number of snow leopard population in Ya'an area was 6 to 9. There was no significant difference in the distributon of snow leopard in different districts (counties) (χ²=4.065, df=4, P=0.397), but there were significant differences in the distribution altitude (χ²=38.910, df=4, P＜0.001) and slope (χ²=9.794, df=4, P=0.044). The distribution altitude, slope, and aspect were mainly concentrated above 3,500 meters, within the range of 15° to 30°, 160° to 200° (southwest-south direction) and 270° to 310° (west-northwest direction) respectively. There were significant differences in the distribution of snow leopards in different vegetation types (χ²=17.297, df=6, P=0.008) and slope positions (χ²=11.878, df=3, P=0.008), and they preferred to move in meadows, scree beaches, coniferous forest habitats, as well as on mountain shoulders, peaks and back slopes. Human activity interference, annual temperature changes, and topographic factors such as precipitation and altitude had a significant impact on the distribution of snow leopard habitats. Within the evaluated area of 54,502.30 square kilometers, the total area of snow leopard habitats was 22,840.05 square kilometers, and the total area of snow leopard habitats in Ya'an area was 4,436.96 square kilometers. Overall, the connectivity of snow leopard habitats in Ya'an area was better. This study demonstrated that the population of snow leopards in the Ya'an area was considerable and the habitat was better. In addition, in order to strengthen the subsequent scientific protection of snow leopards and their habitats, some targeted protection suggestions were put forward.