Return of the wolf to Nepal’s Himalayas may threaten snow leopards

On the slopes of the Himalayas in Nepal, a primaeval scene plays out routinely, far from human eyes: a snow leopard lies in wait for its prey, its thick white-grey coat with large black rosettes serving as the perfect camouflage in this craggy terrain. When it senses the opportune moment, it pounces, aiming for the neck to immobilize the prey. For the next two to three days, it will feast on this single kill.

Until a few years ago, snow leopards, also known as the “ghosts of the mountains,” were believed to be the only surviving apex predator in this part of the world. But the vulnerable species, already facing pressure from common leopards and even tigers moving to higher altitudes , faces an old nemesis from the dog family that has returned to this region after decades.