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Snow Leopard of Afghanistan

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  • A Snow Leopard walking on snow. This big cat lives in the mountains of Central Asia.
  • A closer look at the Snow Leopard's face. This type of leopard's fur is long and thick.
  • A Snow Leopard walking on snow. They are mostly solitary creatures.
  • A Snow Leopard stalking it's prey.
  • A Snow Leopard that can be found in the mountains of Afghanistan.
  • A Snow Leopard crossing a small stream. Since the Snow Leopard lives in the mountains, their tails are long and flexible to help them balance.
  • Trapper Boone Smith in the mountains of the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan.
  • The snow leopard in Afghanistan.
  • The snow leopard. This big cat is considered endangered.
  • Trapper Boone Smith and head ranger Hussain Ali trek to a trapping site in the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan.
  • Trapper Boone Smith in the mountains of the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan.
  • Trapper Boone Smith standing under a waterfall in the mountains of the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan.
  • Head ranger Hussain Ali in the mountains of the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan.
  • Boone Smith surveys the area while tracking snow leopards in the mountains of the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan.
  • The perilous mountains of the Wakhan Corridor, Afghanistan, home to a rare snow leopard population.
  • Head ranger Hussain Ali examines snow leopard paw prints in the Wakhan Corridor of northeast Afghanistan.
  • A Kodiak plane carrying WCS and National Geographic expedition members lands in Kret, Afghanistan.
  • WCS team members trek to a trapping site in the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan.
  • Head ranger Hussain Ali examines snow leopard paw prints in the Wakhan Corridor of northeast Afghanistan.
  • Trapper Boone Smith and WCS team members trek to a trapping site in the Wakhan Corridor of northeast Afghanistan.
  • The snow leopard. The leopard does not possess the ability to roar.
  • Trapper Boone Smith and head ranger Hussain Ali examine the tranquilized snow leopard.
  • Wildlife Veterinarian Stephane Ostrowski checks the tranquilized snow leopard's vitals.
  • A WCS team member examines the tranquilized snow leopard's teeth.
  • Trapper Boone Smith and WCS team member Anthony Simms take measurements of the tranquilized snow leopard while director of photography Marcus Burnett films their work.
  • The snow Leopard waking up after being tranquilized.

  • The Snow Leopard

    Photograph by Tom Brakefield / Getty Images

    A Snow Leopard walking on snow.  This big cat lives in the mountains of Central Asia.

  • Lovely Leopard

    Photograph by Stuart Berman / Getty Images

    A closer look at the Snow Leopard's face.  This type of leopard's fur is long and thick.

  • An Icy Walk

    Photograph by Tom Brakefield / Getty Images

    A Snow Leopard walking on snow.  They are mostly solitary creatures.

  • Serious Stalker

    Photograph by Dennis Donohue / Getty Images

    A Snow Leopard stalking it's prey.

  • Mountain Leopard

    Photograph by Niki Crucillo / Getty Images

    A Snow Leopard that can be found in the mountains of Afghanistan.

  • Leopard Crossing

    Photograph by Jupiterimages / Getty Images

    A Snow Leopard crossing a small stream.  Since the Snow Leopard lives in the mountains, their tails are long and flexible to help them balance.

  • The Mountains of Afghanistan

    Photograph by NGT

    Trapper Boone Smith in the mountains of the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan.

  • Rock Climber Cat

    Photograph by NGT

    The snow leopard in Afghanistan.

  • Endangered Big Cat

    Photograph by NGT

    The snow leopard.  This big cat is considered endangered.

  • Trapping Trek

    Photograph by NGT

    Trapper Boone Smith and head ranger Hussain Ali trek to a trapping site in the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan.

  • Boone Smith

    Photograph by NGT

    Trapper Boone Smith in the mountains of the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan.

  • The Waterfall's End

    Photograph by NGT

    Trapper Boone Smith standing under a waterfall in the mountains of the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan.

  • Guiding the Corridor

    Photograph by NGT

    Head ranger Hussain Ali in the mountains of the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan.

  • Tracking Leopards

    Photograph by NGT

    Boone Smith surveys the area while tracking snow leopards in the mountains of the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan.

  • Mountains of Leopards

    Photograph by NGT

    The perilous mountains of the Wakhan Corridor, Afghanistan, home to a rare snow leopard population.

  • Treacherous Travel

    Photograph by NGT

    Head ranger Hussain Ali examines snow leopard paw prints in the Wakhan Corridor of northeast Afghanistan.

  • Small Plane Landing

    Photograph by NGT

    A Kodiak plane carrying WCS and National Geographic expedition members lands in Kret, Afghanistan.

  • A Rocky Hike

    Photograph by NGT

    WCS team members trek to a trapping site in the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan.

  • Paw Prints

    Photograph by NGT

    Head ranger Hussain Ali examines snow leopard paw prints in the Wakhan Corridor of northeast Afghanistan.

  • Mountain Hiking

    Photograph by NGT

    Trapper Boone Smith and WCS team members trek to a trapping site in the Wakhan Corridor of northeast Afghanistan.

  • Perfect Perch

    Photograph by NGT

    The snow leopard.  The leopard does not possess the ability to roar.

  • Leopard Examination

    Photograph by NGT

    Trapper Boone Smith and head ranger Hussain Ali examine the tranquilized snow leopard.

  • Vital Signs

    Photograph by NGT

    Wildlife Veterinarian Stephane Ostrowski checks the tranquilized snow leopard's vitals.

  • Very Sharp Teeth

    Photograph by NGT

    A WCS team member examines the tranquilized snow leopard's teeth.

  • Taking Measurements

    Photograph by NGT

    Trapper Boone Smith and WCS team member Anthony Simms take measurements of the tranquilized snow leopard while director of photography Marcus Burnett films their work.

  • Becoming Alert

    Photograph by NGT

    The Snow Leopard waking up after being tranquilized.

2 comments
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Rhonda Garton
Rhonda Garton

I just watched your show on snow leopards. We were amazed that this was a Nat'l Geographic show. It was very sad to see how they trapped this animal. They put the animal through so much unnecessary stress and danger. I'm sure you have better ways to trap and tranquilize an animal than this way. Everyone who watched the show with me were left with a negative view on Nat'l Geographic.

Claire Duys
Claire Duys

Boone Smith I have just watched your programme of the Snow Leopards in Afghanistan on tv and I am shocked and appalled at the treatment of Snow Leopards in this show. The fear and stress that you put on these animals is unnecessary and cruel! I am shocked national geographic allowed you to snare these animals in such cruel way! Its clear the animals were in complete distress not to mention the risk of injury by this unnecessary ordeal. I used to believe national geographic was looking out for the earths best interest but this is appalling, shocking and very disappointing.