Saving the Snow Leopards

They are the kings of this mountain world: fast as the wind, sly as a fox and strong as a bear. For thousands of years, the snow leopards of Kyrgyzstan have lived high up in the permanent ice of the Tien Shan Massif. However in recent times, their very existence in this Central Asian country has come increasingly under threat, as the habitat they need to survive is being persistently restricted. Climate change is causing the glaciers to melt, while hunters poach more and more animals. Twenty years ago, there were more than 4,000 big cats ranging through the mountains, nowadays there are only approximately 250 snow leopards left in Kyrgyzstan. The German Society for Nature Conservation, NABU has established a project high above Lake Issyk Kul to protect the leopards. Here, on an area of approximately 7,000 m2, live several cats who were rescued from the poachers’ traps and have little chance of survival in the wild. They now live here under almost normal conditions, with caretakers looking after their wounds and ensuring they have sufficient food. In the interim, Kunak, Bagira and co. have started to breed; the new generation comprises two young leopards who will later be returned to the wild. With spectacular cinematography, the film presents the baby snow leopards and paints a portrait of the people who, like the state of Kyrgyzstan itself, have dedicated themselves to protecting these animals.

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