Editor's Den

Raghul Patteri

Editor

Talking about enigmatic animals, they do not get more enigmatic than the snow leopard. So rare, so elusive and so hard to reach, you could almost believe that these animals were a myth. A myth as much as the Shangri-La like locales that they inhabit.

Found among the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas and other equally cold and perilous terrain, it is a wonder that a big cat can survive in such environs. And the Snow leopard does much more than just survive, they are the apex predator in this habitat and hunts practically every ungulate that is available in the habitat and also some smaller mammals.

The smallest among the members of its genus(Panthera), the Snow Leopard is supremely adapted to survive the tough habitat that it lives in. Its specialized anatomy helps it tame the elements and reign over the terrain. A Snow leopard hunt over the treacherous slopes of a cold, icy mountain can be the most mesmerizing sight that one could ever behold. So If you have a chance to visit them, find a responsible travel partner and plan the epic journey of your life at the first chance.

In this edition of PT Aware join Dr. Peter Hudson and Angus Fraaser relive his epic journey in search of these grey ghosts. Read about their amazing lives and their conservation issues. Learn how global warming is more dangerous for habitats in the high mountains and plateaus than the tropics. Understand the increasingly diminishing amount of forage and vegetation in the high mountains and the different contributory factors for this and the direct impact that it has on the Snow leopards. Snow leopards are the ideal flagship species for the conservation of the whole mountain ecosystem and hence highly important.

PT Aware brings you interesting facts about different species and conservation issues from around the world. We associate with brilliant scientific minds and gifted photographers to bring you the best of both worlds, the latest scientific perspective, and spectacular photographs. Thanks to all the wonderful photographers who shared their Snow leopard images for this edition. Our next edition will focus on the Great Indian Hornbill, so prepare to upload your photographs of these amazing birds. Selected photographs will be published to portray the story of the Hornbill.

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