{"id":6405,"date":"2020-03-09T15:34:13","date_gmt":"2020-03-09T15:34:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/?p=6405"},"modified":"2020-03-09T15:34:57","modified_gmt":"2020-03-09T15:34:57","slug":"ghost-of-the-mountain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/09\/ghost-of-the-mountain\/","title":{"rendered":"Ghost of the Mountain"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the most remote mountain ranges of Asia, on the highest peaks and in the steepest canyons, one of the world\u2019s most elusive big cats is edging towards extinction. What can be done to secure a future for the majestic snow leopard?<\/h3>\n\"Snow<\/a>\n

Snow leopards live a solitary life in the mountains of Central Asia, usually at elevations of 3,000 to 4,500 metres (although they have been observed at 5860m). Given the extreme altitude of their perilously steep environment, and the bitterly cold climate, they are among the hardest of top predators to study. Nobody knows for sure how many there are. Estimates range from as few as 3,290 to as many as 8,700 – a difference of over 5,000 cats.<\/p>\n