Photograph by Michael Nichols Native to the Central Asian
mountains, the snow leopard is a rare sight, with only about
6,000 left in the wild. They are hunted for their beautiful,
warm fur and for their organs, which are used in traditional
Chinese medicine. Big Cats Initiative National Geographic is
working to avert the extinction of lions, cheetahs, and other
big cats with the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program
that supports innovative projects. Learn how you can help save
these animals.