These proposals come from halfway around the world, and, more often than not, one of their architects is American conservationist Helen Freeman. An innovative thinker and indomitable organizer, Freeman set out 15 years ago to rescue snow leopards, often acting as a catalyst to spur others to succeed. Involve local people in developing conservation plans that work to their advantage, and leverage the resources of other partners to get things done. The result has been an unrivaled success. At the center of Freeman's effort is the snow leopard itself.
Oversized paws grip the rocks, and a tail as thick as a man's arm acts as a balancing rod.
An adult snow leopard is roughly the size of a golden retriever, but it can catch a mountain goat three times its own weight. And therein lies the snow leopard's plight. Until recent decades, the cats were protected by the sheer inaccessibility of their haunts. Today, their remote world is increasingly threatened by people. People dress in tattered woolen clothes and flimsy tennis shoes.