The snow leopard is one of the most elusive predators in the world, and photographer Kittiya Pawlowski has captured it in breathtaking detail.
Due to the skepticism and controversy surrounding her work, the photographer has received death threats. Since then, her social media accounts have been deleted.
In Search of the Ghost Cat
Pawlowski told Newsweek that it had been exhausting and felt like spending eight hours a day on a stair climber while holding a pillow over her face.
She had discovered the animal's tracks in Nepal's Annapurna Conservation Area, where she began her search, and then ventured from Lukla into the upper valleys of Sagarmatha National Park. Every day she scanned the valleys for movement with her telephoto lens.
On the morning of the encounter, Pawlowski had almost stayed in her tent, as her oxygen level had dropped to 64 and she was suffering from severe headaches at an altitude of 17,000 feet. She had intended to sleep in, but made the difficult decision to continue searching.
Endangered Species: Snow Leopard
There are only 2,700 to 3,400 adult snow leopards left in the wild. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified the species as endangered.
From southern Russia to northern India, the so-called “ghost cat” can be found in the snow-covered mountains of Central Asia. The habitat of the snow leopard is shrinking as a result of climate change and human population growth.
The illegal trade in body parts and pelts of the animals, as well as poaching, is impacting their populations.
Controversy Surrounding the Images
After watching a documentary about Mount Everest years ago, Pawlowski decided to photograph these “ghost cats.” She spent every day scanning the valleys for movement with a Nikon D850 and an AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4E FL ED VR lens.
Some photo experts expressed doubts about the accuracy of Pawlowski's images. Near Mount Everest lies a small settlement called Gorak Shep at the end of a frozen lake, overlooking the "Phantom Alley," a field of ice pinnacles.
In a disclaimer on her website, she stated that all images she published had been edited with Lightroom and Photoshop. Some images were composites, while others were not. She clarified that she is not a journalist and never claimed her photos were unedited.
Pawlowski concluded by saying that art and photography are her hobbies and that she is just a 24-year-old woman with a normal job who enjoys taking photographs and tries to promote environmental awareness .
The images in the series were all taken by her and the story behind them was real. She had walked 103 miles to take these photos, and the goal had been to raise public awareness of the need for the protection of snow leopards . Ultimately, she wants her work to encourage people to explore and preserve the planet.
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