Wildlife experts are calling this recent sighting of four snow leopards wading through deep snow near K2 a once in a lifetime experience.
Widely regarded as one of world’s most elusive creatures, it is extremely rare to see a single snow leopard in the wild and the chances of seeing four at once are vanishingly small.
The video taken on March 13th by gamekeeper Sakhawat Ali who spent two weeks tracking paw prints through Central Karakoram National Park in an effort to catch a glimpse at the majestic felines.
In a stroke of unbelievable luck, Ali finally spotted them from the roof of his home in remote village of Hushe and pulled out his camera to capture the following video of the the mother snow leopard and her three cubs.
Part of the reason why snow leopards are so rarely seen is their tendency to live inhospitable mountainous regions where humans rarely go. There are documented cases of snow leopards in the Himalayas at over 18,000 feet altitude. Snow leopards have several adaptations that allow them to thrive while living at high-altitude including thick fur, shortened limbs and enlarged nasal cavities.
Video credits: Sakhawat Ali, Wildlife Watcher and Dr Zakir Hussain, Chief Conservator Parks and Wildlife of the Forest, Wildlife and Environment Department, Government of Gilgit-Baltistan
