Jamalabad, Pakistan: When Ulfat Karim recently discovered an unwanted guest on his land in this small village in Northern Pakistan, his immediate reaction was to protect his livestock by catching the intruder. But then he discovered that it was a snow leopard.

 Famous for being both rare and very fierce, snow leopards are found in 12 countries, stretching from the Central Asian Republics to Mongolia. They live in rocky mountains, arid shrubland or grassland and sometimes in open coniferous forest. 

They are an endangered species and Helen Freeman, founder and president of the International Snow Leopard Trust (ISLT), explains why. "Snow leopards are few in number, large-bodied and have a low population growth," she says. "Also, their habitat is being threatened as humans move in." Although we admire these elusive creatures, they are still a nuisance for the communities where they live. A hungry snow leopard does not distinguish between wild and domestic animals. Sheep and goats, as well as cattle, horses, donkeys, camels, and even dogs have been killed.

 It is difficult to please both people and leopards. Since many people depend on domestic animals for their income, it is not surprising that farmers have often killed snow leopards. But some people today have more enlightened attitudes, and Ulfat Karim decided to protect rather than to kill the predator.

 "Two of my sheep were dead, and I found the snow leopard wrestling with a third," he said. "They say the snow leopard becomes inebriated at the sight and smell of blood, and unaware of what is happening around it. I hit it on the head and wrapped my shirt round it until my brother came. We tied it up and kept it until a makeshift cage was built."

 For four days Ulfat Karim's family fed the cat 10-12 kilograms of meat - including the animals it had killed and others that died later. "I realised that I couldn't bring my sheep back to life, but I could limit any further damage," he said.

 Karim is a member of the Khunjerab Villages Organization (KVO), set up to protect animal species in the buffer zone round the Khunjerab National Park. The KVO reports any illegal hunting and also aims to convince others of the benefits of protecting wildlife. When other members heard of the snow leopard, they came to make sure that it was safe. 

Four days after its capture, the animal was released, 15 kilometres from where it had been caught. Villagers chased it as far into the buffer zone as possible, hoping they would prevent it from returning to prey on their livestock.

 Basit Khan, WWF-Pakistan's Coordinator for the Northern Areas, praised the villagers from their unselfish action. However, Qurban Jan, Secretary General of the KVO, warns that farmers who lose livestock must be given compensation. Otherwise the next leopard to wander onto their property will not be treated so kindly. 

* WWF article simplified by F. Meehan