
Snow leopard is almost IMPOSSIBLE to see as it blends in perfectly with its surroundings - so can YOU spot it?
However, upon closer inspection a snow leopard can be seen hiding in plain sight.
The big cats, with their thick fur coat covered in a unique pattern of grey and black rosettes, are nearly impossible to spot on rocky terrain.
It took Remi Vacher, a sales engineer manager and passionate wildlife photographer, eight days to locate and photograph this snow leopard.
He had travelled to Spiti Valley, India, from Dubai to take these amazing pictures - but can you spot the big cat in them?
If you are struggling, you can slide the pictures to reveal the answers...
Mr Vacher said: 'Even working with the best trackers in the area, it took me a very long time to spot the leopards even when they were right in front of me.
'It is hard to spot them in mountainous terrains, and you better not look away or you might struggle again to find it.
'It took me around eight days to finally spot them, and when I did, I did not take my eyes off of them.'
Known as 'ghosts of the Himalayas', snow leopards get their name from their spotted white fur, which helps to keep them well insulated in the harsh weather.
The dexterous creatures are sparsely located across 12 countries in central Asia - including Mongolia, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nepal.
However, snow leopards won't stay in one place for long as they can impressively travel over 25 miles in a single night - almost the distance of a marathon.
Sadly, the big cats are currently under threat from habitat loss and degradation as a result of climate change and human encroachment and retaliatory killings.
Snow leopards live in rugged mountain landscapes and can reach heights of over 3,000 metres, where they prey on mountain sheep and goats.
Their fur can grow up to 12cm long on their belly and is perfect for the high-altitude mountainous terrain they live on.
Each country calls their snow leopards by a different name. For example, in Tibet they are referred to as Sah or Shen.
The big cat can impressively kill prey up to three times their own weight in their challenging terrain.
There are an estimated 4,080 to 6,590 snow leopards left in the wild and they are listed as 'Vulnerable' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
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The Guardian
13 hours ago
- The Guardian
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Scotsman
16 hours ago
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Edinburgh retro: 18 black and white photos old train stations and railway lines
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The Guardian
18 hours ago
- The Guardian
Trucks and Tuks: Decorated Vehicles of South Asia
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