Snow leopard which has been classed as rare and endangered species, are surviving in the Hindu Kush mountain of Northe-estern Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor. Scientists of New York based Wildlife Conservation Society has captured images of 30 different snow leopards from several locations in Wakhan District of Badakshan province. The Wakhan Corridor is a narrow strip of land 354 kilometers long, between Tajikistan to the north, Pakistan to the south, and bordering China along a short stretch to the east. Snow leopard population is estimated to have declined by at least 20 percent over the past 16 years. It is estimated that between 4,500 to 7,500 snow leopards are scattered across a dozen countries in Central Asia. In response to the threats to snow leopard survival, New York based Wildlife Conservation Society along with local communities has taken some initiatives for the training of wildlife rangers and awarenes of the local communities. Conservation education is now being imparted at every school in the Wakhan region. AIR Kabul correspondent reports that peaceful atmosphere of Wakhan holds hopes for not only snow leopards but also other fauna and flora of Afghanistan. It is a wonderful discovery which shows that there is real hope for snow leopards in Afghanistan. The snow leopard, Panthera uncia, as a species remains threatened across the Central Asia. Poachers kill these beautiful animals for their pelts and bones. In Chinese traditional medicine bones and other parts of snow leopard are used for making drugs. Shepherds also kill them to save their sheep from this predator. For these reasons snow leopards have been killed in large numbers, so much so that they became a rare and endangered species. But thanks to comparative peaceful atmosphere in the remote Wakhan area of Afghanistan and the efforts of the conservationists, population of this endangered species has registered an increase. Conservationists say that involvement of local communities in the protection of these rare cats is also necessary to ensure their future survival.