Hidden Cameras Capture Thriving Snow Leopard Colony
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Conservationists all over the world are cheering the discovery of what appears to be a thriving colony of Snow Leopards in a remote mountainous area of Afghanistan.
Strategically placed cameras captured images of 30 of the elusive cats in 16 different locations within a narrow 220-mile strip called the Wakhan Corridor that lies in the northeastern mountains of the country.
Similar to their cousins that live on lower altitudes, these beautiful cats that are native to Central Asia have suffered huge declines in population thanks to poachers who kill them for their fur and shepherds, trying to protect their cattle. The Wildlife Conservation Society estimates that there are only between 4,500 to 7,500 of them left in the wild - The discovery of this thriving colony was therefore, a very pleasant and welcoming surprise.
The society plans to do whatever is necessary to protect these graceful animals to ensure they do not disappear from the face of the Earth. While use of remote cameras has become commonplace in many parts of the world, this is the first time they have been used in Afghanistan - We wonder what other surprises they will uncover.
Resources: wired.com,livescience.com
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256 Comments
- jsandwichalmost 10 yearsI did a project on the snow leopards and they are so cool!!! :)
- nikukyualmost 10 years🎶Because I have the eye of an snow leopard🎶
- WaffleKittensalmost 10 yearsikr they r so adorbz!
- Warriorsalmost 10 yearsTheir babies are too cute!
- Leopardstaralmost 10 yearsI love snowleopards they are so cute
- Warriorsalmost 10 yearsI like snow leopards they are cute
- cheetahqueen213about 10 yearsSo cute! I love cats and im an expert at them! ^.^ ( proof that im an expert: snow leopards aren't really leopards, they are a separate species along with the clouded leopard! )
- cheetahluveralmost 10 yearsLol I love cheetahs too!
- animefan3almost 10 yearsMe too cheetahluver
- happypug12almost 10 yearsCheetahs are my favorite animal!
- animefan3almost 10 yearsCool happypug12
- T.J smilesabout 10 yearsCUTE!!!!!!!! I want a baby leopard ...... Does that make me weird!!!!!!!!!!
- Snow Leopardabout 10 yearsOmg it's me!!!!!!!!! Purrrrrrrrrrrfect...... Meow!
- erinbooabout 10 yearscool cat