4بخش

This is the greatest concentration of peaks over 5 miles high

to be found anywhere on Earth.

Theyre the most dangerous mountains of all.

K2 and her sister peaks have claimed more lives than any others.

The peaks here rise so precipitously,

the glaciers are so steep and crevassed

that few except the most skilled mountaineers can penetrate these ranges.

Markhor gather for their annual rut.

Males must fight for the right to breed,

but on these sheer cliffs any slip by either animal could be fatal.

A snow leopard -

the rarest of Himalayan animals.

Its a female returning to her lair.

These are the first intimate images of snow leopard ever filmed in the wild.

She greets her one year old cub.

Her den is well chosen.

It has exceptional views of the surrounding cliffs.

On these treacherous slopes

no hunter other than the snow leopard

would have a chance of catching such fragile prey.

A female with young makes an easier target.

Her large paws give an excellent grip

and that long tail helps her balance.

Silently she positions herself above her prey.

She returns with nothing.

Golden eagles patrol these cliffs in search of the weak or injured.

With a 2 meter wing span

this bird could easily take a young markhor.

Eagles hunt by sight

and the thickening veil of snow forces them to give up.

For the leopard the snow provides cover

and creates an opportunity.

The worsening weather dampens the sound of her approach

allowing her to get within striking distance.

It was an act of desperation

to try and catch such a large animal.

Wolves have made a kill

giving other hunters a chance to scavenge.

The worst of the blizzard brings success for the snow leopard,

but having descended so far to make the kill

she has a grueling climb to get back to her lair.

The cub must be patient.

Itll be a year before it has the strength and skill

to kill for itself on these difficult slopes.

The snow leopard is an almost mythical creature,

an icon of the wilderness,

an animal few humans have ever glimpsed

for its world is one we seldom visit.