Is it possible to find him?
Who’d have expected that one of the world’s most stunning creatures would be so tough to locate?
Saurabh Desai, a wildlife photographer based in the Spiti Valley of Northern India, recently shared a shot that has left internet users perplexed. It looks to be a straightforward landscape photo of a snow-covered crag at first sight, but there’s more to the image than meets the eye.
Desai was, in fact, capturing a snow leopard, an elusive big cat native to the region with a highly camouflaged coat that allows him to blend into his surroundings to a stunning degree.
Are you able to locate him?
You’re not alone if you attempted and failed to locate the snow leopard.
Despite being in plain sight, even residents in this region, who call these cats “Shan,” have a hard time spotting them.
Desai told The Dodo, “I wanted this animal to be captured the way others have described it.” “They claim they don’t see the ‘Shan’ very frequently, but ‘Shan’ constantly sees them.”
For those who are still perplexed, here’s a hint:
Indeed, the snow leopard was looking back at you the entire time you were seeking.
(To put it another way, he wins.)
Although not all of the snow leopards in Desai’s images are as difficult to locate, their ability to traverse tough terrain makes even seeing them a task.
But it’s more than worth it for Desai.
“I spent almost three years in search of this amazing cat,” he said. “When I found it up and close to me, I was speechless.”
And thanks to Desai’s tireless work documenting these gorgeous animals, the rest of the world can appreciate their beauty, too.