The Ghost Cat: Stories of Spirit & Survival in the Himalayas w/Megan Brief

"The elusive nature of snow leopards lends them an air of mystique that only deepens as the altitude climbs. Communities throughout the Himalayas have come to know them by their moniker, the “ghost of the mountains.” In the Mangyu Valley of Ladakh, where Buddhism predominates, the snow leopard is a sacred symbol. Monks at Rizong Monastery teach compassion for all living beings; villagers install predator-proof corrals to safeguard livestock; women spin wool into snow leopard souvenirs; and local guides inspire tourists to become champions of conservation. While this big cat inspires awe in some cultures, it conjures fear in others. Snow leopards face numerous threats, including declining prey populations, attacks from feral dogs, habitat loss, poaching for the illegal wildlife trade, and retaliatory killings resulting from human-wildlife conflict.

I ventured to the Himalayas in search of a ghost, but I discovered that the wild spirit of the snow leopard lives in the hearts of Ladakh’s people. They taught me the power of learning to read fragments of a life you may never come to see, and that protecting the snow leopard means protecting the delicate relationships that sustain life in these mountains."

Presented by Kenmore Camera's Digital Photo Expo and SONY November 6th - 8th, 2026