Dr. Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi, a scientist and conservationist from India, has dedicated 20 years to studying snow leopards, an animal so rarely seen that it was only filmed for the first time in 2006. Suryawanshi estimates he has encountered the elusive creatures approximately 100 times, a significant number given their secretive nature and remarkable camouflage.
His research has involved enduring harsh conditions, including trekking through steppes as cold as -35C to track the animals. In 2023, he captured a photograph of a mother snow leopard with her two cubs on a rocky ledge in the Himalayas. He was 110 meters away when he took the image.
Suryawanshi's observations challenge common perceptions of snow leopards. "They're not confident or aggressive," he stated, noting that they tend to avoid confrontation. He described them as animals that would yield a kill if approached and are not confrontational with other snow leopards, animals, or humans. Unlike many big cats, snow leopards cannot roar; their vocalizations are described as a soft puffing sound, scientifically termed a 'chuff'.
Despite his extensive experience, Suryawanshi noted that around half of his expeditions to find snow leopards are unsuccessful due to the animals' ability to blend seamlessly into their environment. He referenced the sentiments of American naturalist Peter Matthiessen, who, after a two-month expedition in the Himalayas detailed in his 1978 book "The Snow Leopard," responded to a journalist's question about spotting the animal with "No! Isn’t that wonderful?" This reflects a sentiment that the rarity and mystery of the snow leopard contribute to its allure.
Suryawanshi's book, "The Ghost Of The Mountains: Unravelling The Secrets Of The Snow Leopard," is set to be published by Granta on August 13. The book details his life studying these animals and aims to unravel their secrets for a wider audience.