White Portfolio Finalists | Nature Infocus
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The high-altitude desert landscape of Himachal Pradesh is home to Kibber, one of the highest villages in the world. Situated in the Spiti Valley, it serves as a base camp for visiting the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, which boasts an abundance of Ibex and Blue Sheep and one of the most iconic big cats from the Indian subcontinent—the Snow Leopard.

I have been photographing Snow Leopards in the region for many years now, and here I share the story of an individual I tracked and documented from December 2019 to April 2022.

Snow Leopard mother with her cubs
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Meet the protagonist. She is the mother of three cubs, one female and two males. Snow Leopards are solitary creatures and are found in pairs or groups only during the mating season or when the cubs accompany their mother.
A male Snow Leopard with a Himalayan Ibex kill
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The dominant male in the region, pictured with a big Himalayan Ibex kill. He is the father of the three cubs. Snow Leopards are not as aggressively territorial as other big cats, and overlap in this respect is quite common.
Snow Leopard mother and cubs out on a hunt
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The cubs begin their hunting lessons at three months and learn how to survive this cold desert landscape under the tutelage of the experienced mother.
Male Snow Leopard in Kibber, Himachal Pradesh
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The dominant male suddenly died, succumbing to injuries after falling off a cliff during a hunt. This was one of the last photos of the individual, from the evening before his death.
Snow Leopard cubs
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Soon after, the cubs separated from the mother and went different ways. This was the last time I saw the two brothers together.

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Male Snow Leopard camouflaged
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One of the male cubs now has a turf of his own in this vast expanse. Whitish-grey coats with dark grey and black rosettes, Snow Leopards camouflage exceptionally well against their rocky surroundings.
Snow Leopards mating
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The mother Snow Leopard had found herself a new mate, and I was lucky enough to document this rarely-seen natural history moment. Mating season for Snow Leopards usually falls between January and mid-March. 
Female Snow Leopard in Kibber, Himachal Pradesh
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She is once again ready to contribute to the progeny of her race, to raise offspring capable of surviving this frigid landscape and bearing sons and daughters of their own.