Snow Leopard, Protector of Sacred Mountains

“Beyond the ecological importance of a top predator like the snow leopard, there is something inherently mystical that draws us to these powerful big cats. Their ability to survive in one of the world’s harshest climates, combined with their beauty and ethereal quality, has been the impetus for humans to not only respect and admire them but also revere them. Over the centuries, the snow leopard has become part of local culture and traditions and has been elevated to the position of a ‘sacred species.’ This elusive cat is considered by indigenous wisdom to be a ‘protector of sacred mountains, a unifying force and a source of spiritual power and wisdom.’”

Excerpt – Shavaun Mara Kidd and Bjorn Persson, Searching for the Snow Leopard, Guardian of the High Mountains, (New York: Arcade Publishing, 2020), 1.
Photo – Tashi R. Ghale