WEBVTT FILE 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:03.600 SANDESH KADUR: Wild cats are one of the most diverse 2 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:07.000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 3 00:00:03.680 --> 00:00:06.400 groups of carnivores on the planet. 4 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:12.240 And my home, India, has more species than any other country. 5 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:13.000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 6 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:15.360 My name is Sandesh Kadur. 7 00:00:15.440 --> 00:00:19.640 And I've made it my life goal to film them all. 8 00:00:19.720 --> 00:00:22.320 (whispering) That was the most incredible sighting of a tiger. 9 00:00:22.400 --> 00:00:23.960 But with so much development... 10 00:00:24.040 --> 00:00:25.080 Whoa. 11 00:00:25.160 --> 00:00:26.520 India's wild cats... 12 00:00:26.600 --> 00:00:27.640 Crazy. 13 00:00:27.720 --> 00:00:30.000 ...are under serious pressure. 14 00:00:30.080 --> 00:00:35.520 ♪ ♪ 15 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:38.560 I've spent hundreds of hours filming leopards. 16 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:42.440 But India has two other feline species 17 00:00:42.520 --> 00:00:44.920 that are even more mysterious. 18 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:49.600 And they couldn't live in more remote habitats. 19 00:00:49.680 --> 00:00:51.920 In my rapidly changing country, 20 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:56.760 I want to find these big cats in the wild, before it's too late. 21 00:00:56.840 --> 00:01:06.400 ♪ ♪ 22 00:01:08.800 --> 00:01:10.440 NARRATOR: For 25 years, 23 00:01:10.520 --> 00:01:13.720 National Geographic Explorer Sandesh Kadur 24 00:01:13.800 --> 00:01:16.800 has been traveling to India's wildest places, 25 00:01:16.880 --> 00:01:20.320 documenting his country's outstanding wildlife. 26 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:29.080 ♪ ♪ 27 00:01:29.160 --> 00:01:31.840 He's developed a reputation for revealing the lives 28 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:35.000 of some of the world's most elusive predators. 29 00:01:35.080 --> 00:01:49.920 ♪ ♪ 30 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:53.360 His pioneering camera traps have allowed him to document 31 00:01:53.440 --> 00:01:56.920 the secret lives of almost every Indian cat species. 32 00:02:00.600 --> 00:02:02.240 (hiss) 33 00:02:02.320 --> 00:02:07.560 SANDESH: The leopard was the first big cat I saw in the wild, 34 00:02:07.640 --> 00:02:11.640 and I've been drawn to them ever since. 35 00:02:11.720 --> 00:02:16.680 Their power, energy and intelligence 36 00:02:16.760 --> 00:02:20.280 have made them the world's most successful big cat. 37 00:02:20.360 --> 00:02:28.080 ♪ ♪ 38 00:02:28.160 --> 00:02:30.600 NARRATOR: Leopards are found from the southern tip of Africa 39 00:02:30.680 --> 00:02:34.560 all the way to the eastern end of Russia, 40 00:02:34.640 --> 00:02:37.720 and from India's most remote landscapes, 41 00:02:37.800 --> 00:02:39.720 to its busiest cities. 42 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:45.080 This adaptable big cat has learnt how to live 43 00:02:45.160 --> 00:02:47.400 in nearly every environment. 44 00:02:47.480 --> 00:02:54.920 ♪ ♪ 45 00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:58.200 SANDESH: But India has two mysterious leopard cousins 46 00:02:58.280 --> 00:02:59.880 that are so elusive 47 00:02:59.960 --> 00:03:04.320 that I've yet to really capture them in the wild. 48 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:08.600 One of them is the snow leopard. 49 00:03:08.680 --> 00:03:10.960 NARRATOR: Here in the far north of India, 50 00:03:11.040 --> 00:03:15.920 the snow leopards are the high-altitude specialists. 51 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:18.760 No other predator in the world is better adapted 52 00:03:18.840 --> 00:03:21.360 to living in the mighty Himalaya, 53 00:03:21.440 --> 00:03:24.080 a region so cold and inhospitable 54 00:03:24.160 --> 00:03:26.760 it's nicknamed the Third Pole. 55 00:03:31.080 --> 00:03:33.440 Everything about this cat has evolved perfectly 56 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:36.320 for its environment. 57 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:39.360 Wide paws act as snowshoes, 58 00:03:39.440 --> 00:03:42.680 giving them superior grip on icy terrain, 59 00:03:45.640 --> 00:03:47.720 and it can use its thick, furry tail, 60 00:03:47.800 --> 00:03:50.880 almost as long as its body, 61 00:03:50.960 --> 00:03:54.640 not only for balance, but also to keep warm. 62 00:03:57.320 --> 00:04:01.200 A deep nasal cavity warms the frozen mountain air, 63 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:03.360 and their large lungs ensure 64 00:04:03.440 --> 00:04:06.320 they can get enough oxygen to hunt. 65 00:04:10.360 --> 00:04:13.760 Then there's the snow leopard's distant cousin, 66 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:15.760 the clouded leopard, 67 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:20.600 the most ancient feline of the modern cat world. 68 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:25.160 This evolutionary link between big and small cats 69 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:28.120 couldn't live in a more different habitat. 70 00:04:31.440 --> 00:04:34.360 Here in the dense jungles of Northeast India, 71 00:04:34.440 --> 00:04:37.600 the clouded leopard is top cat. 72 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:43.760 Their large cloud-like coat patterns and small size 73 00:04:43.840 --> 00:04:47.200 allow them to disappear in the tangled forests, 74 00:04:47.280 --> 00:04:50.000 and their superb tree-climbing skills 75 00:04:50.080 --> 00:04:53.720 mean they can travel through the canopy undetected. 76 00:04:55.360 --> 00:05:00.880 (birds chirping) 77 00:05:00.960 --> 00:05:06.360 ♪ ♪ 78 00:05:06.440 --> 00:05:08.880 SANDESH: Until recently, both the clouded leopard 79 00:05:08.960 --> 00:05:12.360 and snow leopard were so rarely seen 80 00:05:12.440 --> 00:05:17.720 they were considered virtually impossible to film. 81 00:05:17.800 --> 00:05:21.000 But I don't just want to find these cats. 82 00:05:21.080 --> 00:05:23.080 I want to get the best photographs yet 83 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:25.520 of them in the wild 84 00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:28.240 and help make sure they are protected. 85 00:05:31.720 --> 00:05:33.520 This is just insane. 86 00:05:37.640 --> 00:05:39.680 My adventure started when I traveled 87 00:05:39.760 --> 00:05:43.120 up to the remote corners of Northeast India 88 00:05:43.200 --> 00:05:46.080 to try and document clouded leopards. 89 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:55.640 I found this fascination for them in the local culture. 90 00:05:58.040 --> 00:06:03.800 But this was all built around a huge trade in their body parts. 91 00:06:03.880 --> 00:06:07.000 It was painful to see. 92 00:06:07.080 --> 00:06:12.080 All I found were dead cats. 93 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:15.520 Poaching was a big issue here. 94 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:22.000 ♪ ♪ 95 00:06:22.080 --> 00:06:24.280 NARRATOR: Just when Sandesh had all but given up 96 00:06:24.360 --> 00:06:29.280 on finding a clouded leopard in the wild, he had a lucky break. 97 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:31.360 SANDESH: I heard about these clouded leopard cubs 98 00:06:31.440 --> 00:06:34.760 being rehabilitated back into the wild, 99 00:06:34.840 --> 00:06:38.800 so I rushed to document the whole process. 100 00:06:38.880 --> 00:06:40.800 NARRATOR: After months of searching, 101 00:06:40.880 --> 00:06:43.840 Sandesh finally had his first encounter 102 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:47.360 with clouded leopards. 103 00:06:47.440 --> 00:06:50.560 SANDESH: In terms of filming a new species of cat, 104 00:06:50.640 --> 00:06:53.840 I mean, this was it, this was the holy grail. 105 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:58.640 (mewing) 106 00:06:58.720 --> 00:07:00.800 NARRATOR: A female clouded leopard on average 107 00:07:00.880 --> 00:07:04.840 produces a litter of two to three cubs. 108 00:07:04.920 --> 00:07:06.800 With their mother gone, 109 00:07:06.880 --> 00:07:10.640 these four-week-old orphans need round-the-clock care. 110 00:07:13.280 --> 00:07:15.960 Only a handful of people have ever seen 111 00:07:16.040 --> 00:07:18.240 wild clouded leopard cubs. 112 00:07:18.320 --> 00:07:21.800 And this tiny pair had a team dedicated to getting them 113 00:07:21.880 --> 00:07:25.040 into the wild as soon as possible. 114 00:07:27.480 --> 00:07:31.280 These cubs, just two pounds each, 115 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:35.000 are vitally important to the future of their species. 116 00:07:41.160 --> 00:07:43.880 After seven months of dedicated care, 117 00:07:43.960 --> 00:07:46.920 it's time for the cubs to start living in the wild. 118 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:55.760 ♪ ♪ 119 00:07:55.840 --> 00:07:58.720 SANDESH: This is a conservation first; 120 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:01.120 it's never been tried before. 121 00:08:03.880 --> 00:08:06.680 NARRATOR: The cubs' new enclosure is up on the trees, 122 00:08:06.760 --> 00:08:09.840 giving them a safe refuge from elephants 123 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:12.120 and encouraging them to get used to a life 124 00:08:12.200 --> 00:08:13.840 up in the canopy. 125 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:21.200 In their new home, the cats can learn the skills they need 126 00:08:21.280 --> 00:08:23.840 to survive in the wild. 127 00:08:26.320 --> 00:08:29.000 SANDESH: Every moment I spend with these cubs, 128 00:08:29.080 --> 00:08:32.520 I'm learning something new about clouded leopards. 129 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:33.960 (meow) 130 00:08:34.040 --> 00:08:36.840 While most of the small cats can purr... 131 00:08:36.920 --> 00:08:38.480 (meow) 132 00:08:38.560 --> 00:08:41.680 ...only the big cats can roar. 133 00:08:41.760 --> 00:08:46.560 Clouded leopards are midway between big cats and small cats. 134 00:08:46.640 --> 00:08:49.760 They have their own unique vocalizations. 135 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:51.560 (purr) 136 00:08:51.640 --> 00:08:55.320 (squawking) 137 00:08:55.400 --> 00:08:58.640 (snarl) 138 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:00.480 (meow) 139 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:06.640 (purr) 140 00:09:11.280 --> 00:09:12.600 It's been about eight months 141 00:09:12.680 --> 00:09:15.240 since the cubs have been brought into the forest, 142 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:17.880 and every day they've been taken around 143 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:21.160 through the jungle on long walks. 144 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:23.880 And they've grown accustomed 145 00:09:23.960 --> 00:09:28.160 to a lot of the sights and sounds of the jungle. 146 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:29.720 They're still very much like kittens, though; 147 00:09:29.800 --> 00:09:34.640 they haven't quite started to make a kill yet. 148 00:09:36.560 --> 00:09:39.400 Their cat instincts are slowly being seen. 149 00:09:39.480 --> 00:09:43.400 They're very arboreal, they love climbing on trees, 150 00:09:46.920 --> 00:09:50.640 especially fallen logs like this. 151 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:53.080 (meow) 152 00:09:53.160 --> 00:09:55.920 NARRATOR: Clouded leopards' short, powerful legs 153 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:58.520 have a unique adaptation: 154 00:09:58.600 --> 00:10:00.520 they can rotate their rear ankles 155 00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:04.760 to climb down tree trunks headfirst. 156 00:10:04.840 --> 00:10:08.920 They can even hang off branches using only their hind paws, 157 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:12.600 giving them a leg up when hunting in the forest. 158 00:10:15.160 --> 00:10:17.160 (meow) 159 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:19.080 SANDESH: And hopefully in a few more months 160 00:10:19.160 --> 00:10:23.040 they'll start making their own kill and living like wild cats. 161 00:10:25.560 --> 00:10:27.880 NARRATOR: After more than a year in captivity 162 00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:32.360 learning to hunt and fend for themselves, 163 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:34.280 the cubs are ready for release. 164 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:40.560 (growling) 165 00:10:43.280 --> 00:10:46.080 The door to their enclosure is left open, 166 00:10:46.160 --> 00:10:48.200 allowing the young clouded leopards 167 00:10:48.280 --> 00:10:50.800 to return to their forest home. 168 00:10:50.880 --> 00:10:59.400 ♪ ♪ 169 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:02.880 SANDESH: I would love to return and film these cats 170 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:07.280 when they're back in the wild. 171 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:10.680 NARRATOR: Though Sandesh may never find these cats again, 172 00:11:10.760 --> 00:11:13.360 he knows he'll be back to film clouded leopards 173 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:17.680 as they were meant to live, wild and free. 174 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:25.720 A year later, back home in Bangalore, 175 00:11:25.800 --> 00:11:29.480 Sandesh is busy testing some new equipment. 176 00:11:29.560 --> 00:11:31.760 If he's going to get the shots he wants, 177 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:34.800 he needs more eyes in the jungle. 178 00:11:34.880 --> 00:11:38.040 So he's built a bespoke set of camera traps 179 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:41.320 that will be triggered to record life in the forest. 180 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:46.320 But then he gets some shocking news. 181 00:11:46.400 --> 00:11:48.920 SANDESH: Oh, my. 182 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:50.760 I can't believe this. 183 00:11:50.840 --> 00:11:54.880 I've just received some horrific images from Northeast India. 184 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:59.320 Two clouded leopards have been killed by poachers. 185 00:11:59.400 --> 00:12:01.120 If I don't get there now, 186 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:05.120 I might lose my chance to document them in the wild. 187 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:12.320 NARRATOR: Wildlife photographer Sandesh Kadur has just heard 188 00:12:12.400 --> 00:12:16.080 about two clouded leopards killed in Northeast India. 189 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:23.720 SANDESH: This isn't the area where my cats were released. 190 00:12:23.800 --> 00:12:27.000 But it could just as easily have been my pair. 191 00:12:29.040 --> 00:12:31.400 I've got to get back to the jungle 192 00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:35.720 and document clouded leopards in the wild before it's too late. 193 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:43.560 NARRATOR: This has become 194 00:12:43.640 --> 00:12:47.240 Sandesh's most important mission. 195 00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:50.480 If he can photograph clouded leopards in the wild, 196 00:12:50.560 --> 00:12:53.160 he can try to push for greater conservation measures 197 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:54.920 in Northeast India. 198 00:12:57.280 --> 00:13:00.640 India has always been famed for its tigers, 199 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:03.040 but in the far northeast of the country 200 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:06.400 it's the clouded leopard, the tiger of the treetops, 201 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:10.840 that is king of the jungle. 202 00:13:10.920 --> 00:13:13.160 SANDESH: If nobody knows about them, 203 00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:15.280 how can they care about them? 204 00:13:18.640 --> 00:13:20.320 NARRATOR: After two days traveling, 205 00:13:20.400 --> 00:13:23.920 he's made it up to clouded leopard country. 206 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:26.200 Now he just needs to decide 207 00:13:26.280 --> 00:13:29.360 where to place his camera traps. 208 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:31.440 SANDESH: If anyone knows where I might photograph 209 00:13:31.520 --> 00:13:36.360 a clouded leopard, it's wildlife biologist Priya Singh. 210 00:13:39.680 --> 00:13:43.040 She's been studying wild cats in this part of India 211 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:45.720 and has agreed to share her knowledge. 212 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:53.320 PRIYA SINGH: In my opinion, this is one of the best places 213 00:13:53.400 --> 00:13:55.760 in the world for clouded leopards. 214 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:58.600 SANDESH: Oh, wow, look at that. 215 00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:12.840 Oh, he's come right up to the camera, 216 00:14:12.920 --> 00:14:15.360 oh, he's coming right along this tree trunk. 217 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:22.800 So how did you come to pick this spot for your camera trap? 218 00:14:22.880 --> 00:14:25.040 PRIYA: If they are to move through the forest floor, 219 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:27.880 they would prefer open trails like these. 220 00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:29.920 I saw some scrape marks down there. 221 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:33.360 But we have very little information on clouded leopards 222 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:35.960 and what areas they prefer to move through. 223 00:14:36.040 --> 00:14:38.680 They do spend a lot of time up in trees, 224 00:14:38.760 --> 00:14:40.920 but it's really hard to find places up in trees 225 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:43.200 to put camera traps. 226 00:14:43.280 --> 00:14:45.400 SANDESH: So what are my chances of seeing and filming 227 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:47.360 a clouded leopard out here? 228 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:49.520 PRIYA: I spent four months here, 229 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:52.120 and I was in the forest almost five days of the week, 230 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:54.120 and I never saw one. 231 00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:59.000 SANDESH: Okay, well, let's get to work, 232 00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:00.920 set up some camera traps. 233 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:08.400 ♪ ♪ 234 00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:13.760 Most cats like to walk along these unobstructed pathways. 235 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:16.960 So I'm hoping that this camera trap does the job for me. 236 00:15:21.680 --> 00:15:23.360 NARRATOR: Two weeks later, 237 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:27.160 Sandesh heads back into the jungle to check his traps 238 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:30.040 and finds a reason to be optimistic. 239 00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:37.040 ♪ ♪ 240 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:39.160 SANDESH: This is the closest we've been so far 241 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:41.120 to a clouded leopard-- 242 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:45.600 fresh scat, probably not more than 24 hours old. 243 00:15:45.680 --> 00:15:47.680 We're getting closer. 244 00:15:47.760 --> 00:15:50.120 Now let's see where he's gone from here. 245 00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:52.240 NARRATOR: Sandesh's experience as a tracker 246 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:56.640 guides him towards the elusive cat's trail. 247 00:15:56.720 --> 00:16:01.840 SANDESH: No, it looks like he's taken the ridgeline up. 248 00:16:01.920 --> 00:16:11.480 ♪ ♪ 249 00:16:11.560 --> 00:16:13.080 (whispering) Look what we have here. 250 00:16:13.160 --> 00:16:16.080 This is exactly the kind of tracks and signs 251 00:16:16.160 --> 00:16:17.640 we're looking for. 252 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:19.480 This scrape mark is an indication 253 00:16:19.560 --> 00:16:24.160 that one of the cats has walked along this trail. 254 00:16:29.160 --> 00:16:32.920 NARRATOR: Following the trail turns up something unexpected. 255 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:35.560 SANDESH: There's a strong smell of something that's dead, 256 00:16:35.640 --> 00:16:37.120 and we're just going to track 257 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:40.200 and see if we can find the carcass. 258 00:16:42.520 --> 00:16:44.560 It's a barking deer. 259 00:16:44.640 --> 00:16:47.160 Most of it has been eaten up. 260 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:51.680 I'm not sure if this kill was made by a clouded leopard, 261 00:16:51.760 --> 00:16:54.440 but if there is a clouded leopard in the area, 262 00:16:54.520 --> 00:16:58.040 it'll most likely be back. 263 00:16:58.120 --> 00:17:00.200 NARRATOR: This is too good an opportunity 264 00:17:00.280 --> 00:17:02.680 for Sandesh to miss. 265 00:17:02.760 --> 00:17:05.200 (flies buzzing) 266 00:17:05.280 --> 00:17:13.640 ♪ ♪ 267 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:18.160 At night, his camera finally detects something. 268 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:22.440 But it's not a clouded leopard. 269 00:17:22.520 --> 00:17:26.720 Dholes, Indian wild dogs, hunt in packs 270 00:17:26.800 --> 00:17:29.080 and are among the most successful carnivores 271 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:31.440 in these forests. 272 00:17:31.520 --> 00:17:37.200 ♪ ♪ 273 00:17:37.280 --> 00:17:41.280 Sandesh's cameras have detected many different species, 274 00:17:41.360 --> 00:17:44.800 both at day, and night, 275 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:49.120 including a rarely seen sun bear, 276 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:52.520 and the enigmatic marbled cat. 277 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:57.600 At around 10 pounds, a marbled cat looks like 278 00:17:57.680 --> 00:18:02.520 a miniature clouded leopard but is less than half the weight. 279 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:10.080 The cameras even capture a binturong, 280 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:12.400 a rarely seen small carnivore 281 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:16.320 that walks like a bear and acts like a cat. 282 00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:22.760 SANDESH: Oh, my gosh, got an amazing shot 283 00:18:22.840 --> 00:18:26.560 of a Pallas's squirrel leaping across the trail. 284 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:29.040 All the way, that's a beautiful jump. 285 00:18:29.120 --> 00:18:32.640 NARRATOR: But despite a healthy mix of potential prey, 286 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:36.480 he hasn't yet managed to capture a clouded leopard. 287 00:18:36.560 --> 00:18:37.760 SANDESH: I'm just hoping that 288 00:18:37.840 --> 00:18:40.000 they just come in the camera trap; 289 00:18:40.080 --> 00:18:42.400 that'd make me very happy. 290 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:46.920 But so far, nothing. 291 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:51.320 NARRATOR: As the team continues up the mountain, 292 00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:53.840 they don't realize they're about to come across 293 00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:58.320 the most dangerous predator of all: 294 00:18:58.400 --> 00:18:59.520 poachers. 295 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:11.080 NARRATOR: Wildlife photographer Sandesh and his team 296 00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:14.080 have just scared off poachers in the forest. 297 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:21.560 He quickly calls the Forest Department to report them. 298 00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:22.960 SANDESH: Yeah. 299 00:19:23.040 --> 00:19:24.640 The Bushnell we just recovered over here, 300 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:26.400 they had thrown it here, 301 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.880 I think while they were running they must have thrown it down. 302 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:30.960 We're still missing two SD cards with content on it. 303 00:19:31.040 --> 00:19:34.240 And they have one rifle, they have one gun with them. 304 00:19:34.320 --> 00:19:36.920 Okay, fine, we'll wait for the forest guards to come up. 305 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:39.200 NARRATOR: Checking footage on the recovered camera card 306 00:19:39.280 --> 00:19:42.800 reveals something shocking. 307 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:45.480 SANDESH: Not only did the poachers steal our cameras, 308 00:19:45.560 --> 00:19:47.520 they were trying to hide evidence 309 00:19:47.600 --> 00:19:50.000 by taking away the memory cards, 310 00:19:50.080 --> 00:19:53.640 and now we've found that they've actually killed a monkey. 311 00:19:56.560 --> 00:19:57.840 NARRATOR: In their rush to escape, 312 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:00.600 the poachers dropped a bag. 313 00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:04.080 The contents reveal exactly how they were operating. 314 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:06.840 SANDESH: Locally made bullets. 315 00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:09.200 These guys were here trying to hunt. 316 00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:14.320 NARRATOR: Despite hunting being banned in India, 317 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:19.360 poaching is a big problem here. 318 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:22.520 The dense jungles of Northeast India are home 319 00:20:22.600 --> 00:20:26.000 to some of the most rarely seen primates, 320 00:20:26.080 --> 00:20:28.720 including the capped langur. 321 00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:39.240 But when he gets down to base, he hears some news. 322 00:20:39.320 --> 00:20:41.920 The poachers have been apprehended. 323 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:47.240 ♪ ♪ 324 00:20:47.320 --> 00:20:50.840 The risks they took show there's clearly still a demand 325 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:52.960 for illegal wildlife parts. 326 00:20:53.040 --> 00:21:05.880 ♪ ♪ 327 00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:08.480 SANDESH: It's only later that I realize just how lucky 328 00:21:08.560 --> 00:21:11.000 the clouded leopard was. 329 00:21:11.080 --> 00:21:15.840 ♪ ♪ 330 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:19.760 In the morning, a young male tripped the camera. 331 00:21:24.080 --> 00:21:25.880 Less than an hour later, 332 00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:29.160 the poachers walked up the same trail. 333 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:35.200 NARRATOR: With fewer than 10,000 clouded leopards 334 00:21:35.280 --> 00:21:37.040 left in the wild, 335 00:21:37.120 --> 00:21:41.120 it's vital that the areas they live in are protected. 336 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:48.120 ♪ ♪ 337 00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:51.600 With just a week remaining before he has to travel home, 338 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:55.000 Sandesh heads deeper into the jungle to find trails 339 00:21:55.080 --> 00:21:59.000 that are off-grid to even the most determined poachers. 340 00:21:59.080 --> 00:22:26.400 ♪ ♪ 341 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:30.680 It's time to check if the cameras have captured anything. 342 00:22:30.760 --> 00:22:33.000 SANDESH: Okay, fingers crossed. 343 00:22:33.080 --> 00:22:43.720 ♪ ♪ 344 00:22:43.800 --> 00:22:45.680 Oh, my god, look at that! 345 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:52.120 Ohh, I can't believe it. 346 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:56.800 That's the shot we've been waiting for. 347 00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:59.840 A clouded leopard on a tree. 348 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:02.840 It was right here on this same branch. 349 00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:05.160 Came up and gone like that. 350 00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:07.120 NARRATOR: After months of work, 351 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:12.120 Sandesh Kadur has just fulfilled a lifelong mission. 352 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:15.400 Each of his carefully placed camera traps has recorded 353 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:19.840 detailed images of clouded leopards in the wild. 354 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:23.520 These images can help prove the importance of this landscape 355 00:23:23.600 --> 00:23:26.560 for the survival of these incredible cats, 356 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:29.120 and hopefully, get the clouded leopards 357 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:31.440 the protection they deserve. 358 00:23:37.600 --> 00:23:40.320 With his cat finally in the bag, 359 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:46.080 it's time for Sandesh to go after his final leopard, 360 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:50.960 the grey ghost of the mountains: 361 00:23:51.040 --> 00:23:52.800 the snow leopard. 362 00:23:58.200 --> 00:24:02.240 The conditions will test his methods to the limit. 363 00:24:02.320 --> 00:24:07.720 ♪ ♪ 364 00:24:07.800 --> 00:24:10.960 SANDESH: Why do snow leopards have to live 365 00:24:11.040 --> 00:24:13.440 in such an insane habitat? 366 00:24:19.080 --> 00:24:21.600 NARRATOR: National Geographic Explorer Sandesh Kadur 367 00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:23.880 has managed to capture intimate shots 368 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:28.160 of India's smallest and most rarely seen big cat, 369 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.840 the clouded leopard. 370 00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:39.200 Now, he travels over a thousand miles northwest to the Himalaya 371 00:24:39.280 --> 00:24:41.880 to track down the snow leopard, 372 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:44.760 the highest altitude big carnivore on the planet. 373 00:24:49.120 --> 00:24:53.200 By some estimates there could as few as 4,000 snow leopards 374 00:24:53.280 --> 00:24:55.080 left in the wild. 375 00:24:57.640 --> 00:25:01.640 They live only in cold, high-altitude regions. 376 00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:05.480 But as climate changes, their mountain homes are changing 377 00:25:05.560 --> 00:25:10.240 faster than most places on Earth. 378 00:25:10.320 --> 00:25:12.920 SANDESH: With warmer summers and less snowfall, 379 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:14.720 I want to find out exactly how 380 00:25:14.800 --> 00:25:18.520 these high-altitude felines are coping. 381 00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:26.280 NARRATOR: But his friends at the Forest Department 382 00:25:26.360 --> 00:25:29.360 have got urgent news. 383 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:31.920 The wildlife warden has just reported 384 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:35.600 a critically injured snow leopard. 385 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:39.880 These cats hunt in one of the toughest environments on Earth, 386 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:43.200 testing their skills every day. 387 00:25:43.280 --> 00:25:47.280 They'll go after smaller prey such as marmots, 388 00:25:47.360 --> 00:25:49.000 but they favor bigger meals 389 00:25:49.080 --> 00:25:53.160 like ibex, urial, and blue sheep. 390 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:55.920 One of these mountain goats will feed a snow leopard 391 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:57.840 for over a week. 392 00:26:00.120 --> 00:26:06.040 But they are agile, alert and very hard to catch. 393 00:26:06.120 --> 00:26:11.640 One slip in this unforgiving terrain can mean death. 394 00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:14.840 But this cat is lucky. 395 00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:20.560 Villagers found it at the base of a cliff, alive, but barely. 396 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:25.320 The Forest Department is racing to provide it 397 00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:28.960 the urgent veterinary attention it desperately needs. 398 00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:48.120 SANDESH: We have a young male snow leopard that was found 399 00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:51.960 near the village of Likhsay. 400 00:26:52.040 --> 00:26:54.440 He may have gotten into a territorial fight. 401 00:26:54.520 --> 00:26:57.200 He's got an injury on his face. 402 00:26:57.280 --> 00:27:03.160 ♪ ♪ 403 00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:04.760 We've just done an x-ray 404 00:27:04.840 --> 00:27:09.360 and there doesn't seem to be any sign of breakage. 405 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:12.200 But obviously the snow leopard is very weak. 406 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:16.680 NARRATOR: The vets give the leopard fluids 407 00:27:16.760 --> 00:27:18.480 and try to keep it comfortable. 408 00:27:18.560 --> 00:27:20.000 SANDESH: With a little bit of care, 409 00:27:20.080 --> 00:27:25.880 hopefully the snow leopard will come out of its shock 410 00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:29.240 and we'll be able to release him back into the wild. 411 00:27:29.320 --> 00:27:32.720 ♪ ♪ 412 00:27:32.800 --> 00:27:36.520 (speaking native language) 413 00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:38.200 ♪ ♪ 414 00:27:38.280 --> 00:27:40.600 NARRATOR: Sandesh didn't expect his first encounter 415 00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:43.800 with a snow leopard to be so intimate. 416 00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:50.840 ♪ ♪ 417 00:27:50.920 --> 00:27:53.720 He came to understand how this predator is coping 418 00:27:53.800 --> 00:27:57.760 with a threat facing all wildlife here. 419 00:27:57.840 --> 00:28:07.360 ♪ ♪ 420 00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:11.040 The Himalaya is warming above the global average, 421 00:28:11.120 --> 00:28:13.920 and two thirds of its glaciers might vanish 422 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:16.040 by the end of the century. 423 00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:22.960 Sandesh wants to document what these changes mean 424 00:28:23.040 --> 00:28:26.480 for these cats that have evolved to thrive here. 425 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:33.520 To find these felines, he gets help from a team of locals 426 00:28:33.600 --> 00:28:36.600 who know these mountains better than anyone. 427 00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:44.960 ♪ ♪ 428 00:28:45.040 --> 00:28:47.280 SANDESH: Norbu, our main man here, 429 00:28:47.360 --> 00:28:49.640 has organized our trackers 430 00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:51.120 who are going to be going out every day 431 00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:54.760 and scanning the hillside and keeping an eye 432 00:28:54.840 --> 00:28:59.840 on what's going on and report any snow leopard sightings. 433 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:04.960 But before I head out, I want to meet one of the village elders. 434 00:29:05.040 --> 00:29:08.320 In Buddhist culture, stories about different creatures 435 00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:13.080 are passed down through the generations. 436 00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:17.800 I learn that the locals here call the snow leopard "shan." 437 00:29:22.760 --> 00:29:25.840 I need to seek his blessings and knowledge 438 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:29.880 in order to meet the shan. 439 00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:34.600 He's just informed us that they heard the call of the shan 440 00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:37.920 a few days ago in the valley right behind us. 441 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:41.440 ♪ ♪ 442 00:29:41.520 --> 00:29:42.720 (calling) 443 00:29:42.800 --> 00:29:46.000 ♪ ♪ 444 00:29:46.080 --> 00:29:48.920 (calling) 445 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:50.520 ♪ ♪ 446 00:29:50.600 --> 00:29:52.200 NARRATOR: The next morning, 447 00:29:52.280 --> 00:29:55.400 Sandesh gets the news he's been waiting for. 448 00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:57.600 SANDESH: So we've just got information of a snow leopard 449 00:29:57.680 --> 00:30:00.280 with two cubs up on the ridge. 450 00:30:00.360 --> 00:30:02.400 So we're going to rush there right now. 451 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:05.560 And fingers crossed, they'll be there. Okay. 452 00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:12.480 NARRATOR: Wildlife photographer Sandesh just got news 453 00:30:12.560 --> 00:30:15.440 that a female snow leopard with two cubs 454 00:30:15.520 --> 00:30:18.400 has been spotted in the valley. 455 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.960 SANDESH: Any information like this 456 00:30:20.040 --> 00:30:24.560 we just cannot take the risk of letting it go. 457 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:26.320 Can't leave a single stone unturned, 458 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:29.760 especially when it comes to a snow leopard sighting. 459 00:30:29.840 --> 00:30:43.560 ♪ ♪ 460 00:30:43.640 --> 00:30:46.240 NARRATOR: His diligence has paid off. 461 00:30:49.800 --> 00:30:51.360 SANDESH: There's a mother and two cubs, 462 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:55.600 and they're resting up high on that hill, 463 00:30:55.680 --> 00:31:00.920 and I feel incredibly fortunate to be seeing three snow leopards 464 00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:02.200 just on our second day. 465 00:31:02.280 --> 00:31:04.560 It's a good start. 466 00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:06.640 NARRATOR: Born blind and helpless, 467 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:09.360 snow leopard cubs grow rapidly 468 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:14.200 and by three months start following their mothers. 469 00:31:14.280 --> 00:31:18.440 These two will stay with their mother for nearly two years, 470 00:31:18.520 --> 00:31:23.600 learning how to survive in these unforgiving mountains. 471 00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:26.480 SANDESH: She's just gotten up and going up along that ridge, 472 00:31:26.560 --> 00:31:31.000 I mean, it's incredibly far. 473 00:31:31.080 --> 00:31:34.800 Even though we've been fairly lucky in seeing snow leopards, 474 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:38.200 it's been near impossible to get a close-up shot, 475 00:31:38.280 --> 00:31:40.880 even with a 1,000-millimeter lens. 476 00:31:43.120 --> 00:31:45.760 So the only way we're going to capture intimate shots 477 00:31:45.840 --> 00:31:50.840 of snow leopards is by setting up remote cameras. 478 00:31:52.880 --> 00:31:54.920 NARRATOR: Growing up in these mountains, 479 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:58.120 local tracker Norbu developed a sense for picking out 480 00:31:58.200 --> 00:32:02.960 their movements through the rocky terrain. 481 00:32:03.040 --> 00:32:07.520 Sandesh relies on this vital knowledge of how the cats move. 482 00:32:11.240 --> 00:32:16.440 Snow leopards mainly travel during dawn and dusk. 483 00:32:16.520 --> 00:32:20.920 Able to jump up to 50 feet in a single stride, 484 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:25.240 there are few places they can't reach, 485 00:32:25.320 --> 00:32:28.120 even among these boulders. 486 00:32:28.200 --> 00:32:30.920 But to communicate with other snow leopards, 487 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:35.680 they use scrape marks and scent rocks, 488 00:32:35.760 --> 00:32:38.520 something Norbu has learned to find. 489 00:32:38.600 --> 00:32:50.280 ♪ ♪ 490 00:32:50.360 --> 00:32:52.080 Armed with this information, 491 00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:55.960 Sandesh sets up his cameras across the mountains. 492 00:32:56.040 --> 00:33:07.040 ♪ ♪ 493 00:33:07.120 --> 00:33:11.760 A few days later, he gets a surprising call. 494 00:33:11.840 --> 00:33:15.000 A snow leopard has raided some village livestock. 495 00:33:18.600 --> 00:33:21.840 SANDESH: In the living memory of the residents of the village, 496 00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:25.120 no snow leopard has ever entered into the cowshed 497 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:27.400 and killed livestock. 498 00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:32.480 They've just seen where the snow leopard 499 00:33:32.560 --> 00:33:38.160 has entered this cowshed from. 500 00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:44.080 There's still some remnants of snow leopard fur 501 00:33:44.160 --> 00:33:45.960 stuck on the thorny bush, 502 00:33:46.040 --> 00:33:49.360 and this is what they do to keep snow leopards out, 503 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:50.840 is have a line of thorns, 504 00:33:50.920 --> 00:33:54.560 but the snow leopard found a break in the defenses, 505 00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:59.800 came right through and attacked the calf right here. 506 00:33:59.880 --> 00:34:04.160 And there was a battle between the mother of the calf 507 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:05.520 and the snow leopard, 508 00:34:05.600 --> 00:34:08.320 and there is even some blood stains over here. 509 00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:11.280 But in that whole process, 510 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:15.720 the snow leopard managed to kill the calf and then took off. 511 00:34:19.080 --> 00:34:21.000 When I asked Namgail if he's upset or angry, 512 00:34:21.080 --> 00:34:22.600 he's "Well, it was bound to happen 513 00:34:22.680 --> 00:34:24.400 at one point or the other, 514 00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:26.720 so there's nothing much you can do about it." 515 00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:33.480 ♪ ♪ 516 00:34:33.560 --> 00:34:36.120 NARRATOR: Snow leopards consume their hard-won kills 517 00:34:36.200 --> 00:34:37.760 over several days... 518 00:34:40.280 --> 00:34:42.880 so this cat will likely return. 519 00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:45.360 That gives Sandesh the perfect opportunity 520 00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:47.960 to document the cat at a kill. 521 00:34:48.040 --> 00:34:54.440 ♪ ♪ 522 00:34:54.520 --> 00:35:00.800 SANDESH: I'm sitting here in a hide at 14,000 feet elevation, 523 00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:04.480 and I'm sat here with three pairs of thermals, head gear, 524 00:35:04.560 --> 00:35:07.640 gloves, several pairs of socks, 525 00:35:07.720 --> 00:35:10.880 and it's still freezing. 526 00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:15.520 I wish I was as adapted to the cold as the snow leopard. 527 00:35:15.600 --> 00:35:19.920 It has the densest fur amongst any of the big cats. 528 00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:24.720 Its paws are insulated, it's got fur between its pads. 529 00:35:28.680 --> 00:35:30.400 NARRATOR: After many hours, 530 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:33.560 a predator eventually comes to the kill, 531 00:35:33.640 --> 00:35:36.680 but it's not the one Sandesh was expecting. 532 00:35:46.760 --> 00:35:51.000 Red foxes are the world's most widespread canine species, 533 00:35:51.080 --> 00:35:53.800 found across the Northern Hemisphere. 534 00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:58.760 Like leopards, they are intelligent 535 00:35:58.840 --> 00:36:00.800 and highly adaptable, 536 00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:05.440 never passing up an opportunity for a free meal. 537 00:36:05.520 --> 00:36:10.600 But in these mountains, they need to be alert. 538 00:36:10.680 --> 00:36:15.760 As dusk approaches, an even bigger canine emerges. 539 00:36:15.840 --> 00:36:17.640 (barking) 540 00:36:20.080 --> 00:36:24.640 Grey wolves are another top predator here in the Himalaya. 541 00:36:31.120 --> 00:36:33.840 SANDESH: I don't know how this snow leopard is going to fare 542 00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:36.600 with a wolf in the area. 543 00:36:36.680 --> 00:36:39.840 I doubt it will be able to defend itself. 544 00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:57.520 ♪ ♪ 545 00:36:57.600 --> 00:37:00.440 NARRATOR: But during the night, Sandesh's cameras detect 546 00:37:00.520 --> 00:37:04.600 something that's rarely ever been seen before. 547 00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:08.760 (yelp) 548 00:37:10.760 --> 00:37:11.600 (yelp) 549 00:37:16.120 --> 00:37:22.040 NARRATOR: After staking out a cow killed by a snow leopard, 550 00:37:22.120 --> 00:37:25.120 Sandesh's nighttime camera traps have recorded 551 00:37:25.200 --> 00:37:27.560 rarely ever seen behavior 552 00:37:27.640 --> 00:37:31.000 of a snow leopard chasing off a wolf. 553 00:37:31.080 --> 00:37:32.080 (yelp) 554 00:37:34.800 --> 00:37:35.760 (yelp) 555 00:37:41.400 --> 00:37:42.600 (yelp) 556 00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:47.800 In the age-old conflict between cats and dogs, 557 00:37:47.880 --> 00:37:51.200 it's clear that the snow leopard wins that battle, 558 00:37:51.280 --> 00:37:53.160 at least tonight. 559 00:37:53.240 --> 00:37:54.560 (yelp) 560 00:38:00.720 --> 00:38:03.600 The villagers' generosity means the snow leopard 561 00:38:03.680 --> 00:38:07.320 will have enough food for well over a week. 562 00:38:07.400 --> 00:38:29.920 ♪ ♪ 563 00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:32.040 SANDESH: (whispering) There's a snow leopard 564 00:38:32.120 --> 00:38:35.440 resting on the rock. 565 00:38:35.520 --> 00:38:37.840 He's coming down to the kill. 566 00:38:37.920 --> 00:39:02.480 ♪ ♪ 567 00:39:02.560 --> 00:39:04.760 This is just incredible. 568 00:39:04.840 --> 00:39:07.840 This is the view I had always wanted; 569 00:39:07.920 --> 00:39:12.560 my hide barely 200 feet from a wild snow leopard. 570 00:39:12.640 --> 00:39:14.800 I finally have my chance to witness 571 00:39:14.880 --> 00:39:19.400 one of India's feline phantoms up close. 572 00:39:19.480 --> 00:39:24.040 In the wild, snow leopards can live on average about 12 years, 573 00:39:24.120 --> 00:39:28.560 and I expect as they get older, like other big cats, 574 00:39:28.640 --> 00:39:31.840 they have to take more risks to make a kill. 575 00:39:35.240 --> 00:39:39.040 I don't know what pushed this snow leopard into killing a cow, 576 00:39:39.120 --> 00:39:45.040 if it was hungry or injured or just being opportunistic, 577 00:39:45.120 --> 00:39:47.320 but I hope the warming of these mountains 578 00:39:47.400 --> 00:39:51.320 isn't going to push these magnificent animals 579 00:39:51.400 --> 00:39:53.920 into more contact with people. 580 00:40:00.400 --> 00:40:02.560 NARRATOR: To understand the bigger picture, 581 00:40:02.640 --> 00:40:06.160 Sandesh retrieves his camera traps from across the mountains 582 00:40:06.240 --> 00:40:08.160 to see what they reveal. 583 00:40:12.920 --> 00:40:15.080 Over the course of two months, 584 00:40:15.160 --> 00:40:19.240 they've captured an intimate window of wild Himalayan life. 585 00:40:19.320 --> 00:40:49.480 ♪ ♪ 586 00:40:49.560 --> 00:40:52.840 And Sandesh's skillfully placed camera traps have allowed him 587 00:40:52.920 --> 00:40:57.640 to document extraordinary images of snow leopards. 588 00:40:57.720 --> 00:41:01.080 He's surprised to see that they regularly use the same paths 589 00:41:01.160 --> 00:41:03.720 as people and livestock, 590 00:41:03.800 --> 00:41:08.200 showing just how frequently their domains overlap. 591 00:41:08.280 --> 00:41:11.160 Despite this, he's learned that in this area 592 00:41:11.240 --> 00:41:13.320 locals rarely have any trouble 593 00:41:13.400 --> 00:41:16.440 living alongside these elusive cats. 594 00:41:23.360 --> 00:41:26.640 (engine starts) 595 00:41:26.720 --> 00:41:30.720 But before leaving, he has one final old friend to see. 596 00:41:35.720 --> 00:41:37.280 The rescued snow leopard 597 00:41:37.360 --> 00:41:40.160 found injured at the bottom of the cliff. 598 00:41:43.240 --> 00:41:45.680 His fans have named him Likki, 599 00:41:45.760 --> 00:41:50.760 the snow leopard from the village of Likhsay. 600 00:41:50.840 --> 00:41:53.160 Having suffered a near-fatal head injury, 601 00:41:53.240 --> 00:41:56.640 timely help by the locals and vital veterinary care 602 00:41:56.720 --> 00:41:59.000 saved this cat's life. 603 00:41:59.080 --> 00:42:14.200 ♪ ♪ 604 00:42:14.280 --> 00:42:15.880 Now fighting fit, 605 00:42:15.960 --> 00:42:20.400 Likki is ready to be released back into the wild. 606 00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:21.960 (roar) 607 00:42:22.040 --> 00:42:31.960 ♪ ♪ 608 00:42:32.040 --> 00:42:33.680 The Forest Department is driving him 609 00:42:33.760 --> 00:42:36.480 to the spot from where he was rescued. 610 00:42:36.560 --> 00:42:55.120 ♪ ♪ 611 00:42:55.200 --> 00:42:57.080 SANDESH: He's finally back home after two months 612 00:42:57.160 --> 00:43:00.760 of intensive care with the Forest Department. 613 00:43:00.840 --> 00:43:09.240 ♪ ♪ 614 00:43:09.320 --> 00:43:12.680 Even though these cats do impact livelihoods, 615 00:43:12.760 --> 00:43:16.160 this snow leopards' life was saved by people. 616 00:43:18.720 --> 00:43:21.840 This is the challenge of conserving wild cats 617 00:43:21.920 --> 00:43:25.400 in a country with over 1.3 billion people. 618 00:43:28.040 --> 00:43:30.160 What I've seen on my journey 619 00:43:30.240 --> 00:43:33.400 exploring India's secret leopards 620 00:43:33.480 --> 00:43:37.440 shows that we need tolerance and respect 621 00:43:37.520 --> 00:43:40.400 to live alongside these big cats. 622 00:43:43.880 --> 00:43:47.320 People tend to forget what they don't see. 623 00:43:47.400 --> 00:43:50.080 My job is to photograph these felines 624 00:43:50.160 --> 00:43:54.880 and remind people that these elusive cats exist 625 00:43:54.960 --> 00:43:58.640 and must be protected. 626 00:43:58.720 --> 00:44:03.480 And by doing so, I hope that these mysterious leopards 627 00:44:03.560 --> 00:44:07.000 continue to roam these last wild places.