A recent study conducted by field biologists from the government of Bhutan and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) captured over 10,000 images of snow leopards during a camera trap survey in Bhutan's Wangchuck Centennial Park, where the leopards were found to be thriving.
Endangered snow leopard thrives in Bhutan
Dinner
It was the first ever snow leopard prey survey in Bhutan's newest national park and it revealed astonishing footage of snow leopards scent-marking and, among others, a healthy population of blue sheep like this one, one of the main food sources for snow leopards.
Endangered snow leopard thrives in Bhutan
Elusive
The snow leopard is recognized as one of the least known and elusive cats in the world. This solitary and nocturnal cat has found a home above the tree line where it hunts. Within this habitat, sighting a snow leopard is rare.
Endangered snow leopard thrives in Bhutan
High altitudes
The snow leopard's thick fur allows the animals to adapt to the wildering climate in the high altitudes - usually above 3,000 meters above sea level.
Endangered snow leopard thrives in Bhutan
Global warming
Warming at high elevations in the Himalayas is causing treelines to ascend and isolating snow leopard populations. Under a high emission scenario, as much as 30 percent of their range could be lost, according to the WWF.
Endangered snow leopard thrives in Bhutan
Offspring
The species is endangered. Its biggest threats are retaliatory killing from herders, loss of habitat to farmers, poaching for their pelts, and climate change.
Endangered snow leopard thrives in Bhutan
In captivity
Here, a baby snow leopard plays with a pumpkin in a zoo. In the wild, there are thought to be anywhere from 4,500 to 7,500 of them.
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