Snow Leopard country...

Sometimes when the light hits a certain part of a ridge you can't help but wonder about its secrets.  You have trained yourself over many years to move quickly, quietly... very quietly... not to disturb but with the knowledge needed to protect that which you respect, some small cameras with no glow left for many weeks, they can do good.  The wildlife of the high Himalaya, animals such as the Blue Sheep, the Tahr, the Snow Leopard, they deserve this help after we have taken away so much.  Get there quickly, leave even faster, do not disturb and accept what secrets an unexplored mountain ridge gives you...

Looking from the inside as I'm caged by the leopard....

These are two recent posts at Facebook before I soon post a blog called 

"The essence to the Search for the Mountain Tiger"

Looking from the inside as I'm caged by the leopard....

Asa has been returning to Leopard Camp for visits after two weeks away. Increased human activity, mainly locals cutting bamboo, has made him wary but it has been really pleasing that he keeps well away from people, he hides well. I've been re configuring the camp for this next stage and I now virtually live (for sleeping when I'm there, eating etc) in a cage which is Asa proof for my protection and especially my gear which he still destroys. We still sometimes hunt together and occasionally just hang out but as I've pointed out recently the young leopard has become immensely strong and at feeding time if he hasn't hunted he is very aggressive, good natural big cat behaviour. There are all sorts of logistics in the feeding process where he has set up his own territory so I have to be on my guard. This is good. Big cat family dynamics are intense especially as the separation process progresses and to be physically part of that process is hard to describe but I am careful, would be bloody stupid if I wasn't.
There will be more images soon. You can get an idea what the new photo site will be like at www.mountaintiger.photography - note where the dots are.
Ok, that's it from me for a few days, it's tough but it's going well. My next bog will be "The Essence to the Search for the Mountain Tiger"... it will give insights to my book and will hopefully explain a few more things re the big picture of what is going on here in this extraordinary part of the Himalaya. Many thanks to those who read my main blog at www.wildtiger.org/jackkinross
I'm behind in communications as usual but thanks for the support which is coming through different channels. More soon, Jai Bagh, cheers Jack.

Conservation, it's about wildlife, habitat and very much about people...

I'll hopefully be able to blog properly in the next few days but many thanks for the messages re my "health"... hey, no problem, I'm just finding that every few days after being at Leopard Camp I tend to crash and burn a bit, it's ok, it's just the sheer intensity of working with a wild animal in this environment...but I'm happy with my balance and the way things are going. I'm down in the village right now, a lot going on, some positive action re mountain safety and the strong possibility of a new health post outreach at a village a few hours walk away. I'll explain more soon. Conservation, particularly here in the Himalaya is so much about people and community looking to the way forward to achieve balance with this challenging environment...
Hopefully the new format for Mountaintiger Photography will be up and running soon, the layout looks good. My thanks to those who have been patiently waiting for images and I really appreciate every purchase as this is going to become an even more important part of funding projects here.
Asa is doing well, the young leopard is becoming such a powerful force not just in his being but in the way he has changed perceptions and increased understanding. More on this soon, cheers Jack.

Living with a leopard, the right to be free and the search for the mountain tiger...

Many thanks for the comments, messages and support coming through on different forums as Asa makes his way in the wild, his birthright.  The blog LIVING WITH A LEOPARD, THE RIGHT TO BE FREE AND THE SEARCH FOR THE MOUNTAIN TIGER has been published HERE.  I've hit a plateau, mental and physical exhaustion has meant I've barely been able to move these last 24hrs.  Although I'd reached a state of high physical fitness I've felt myself declining in the last two weeks.  Luckily I'm down in the village, was here last night when it all went a bit haywire.  It's hard at Leopard Camp, just getting there is not easy, a really decent climb, I'll head back up and further on to Asa's area as soon as I recover in the next couple of days.  I enjoy adventure, challenges, wildlife protection, those things drive me but this has been something else.  I'm pleased I finished the blog while I was up at the camp because I wanted to publish it today, my daughter's birthday.  Signal issues and the fact I have no energy means it will stay on the website but if you're ever going to read one of my rants please make it that one.  It touches on an extraordinary meeting Asa and I had as well as the thinking behind Search for the Mountain Tiger which I will be expanding on as the project develops.  Despite my rather exhausted state right now I do feel a deep peace that Asa is where he is and although there is much to come regarding the young leopard's role in this there is the comfort in knowing that the journey we have undertaken together has taken things to a positive and rightful place.  Thanks again to all for your help and interest in whatever way, cheers Jack.

Real edge to the leopard as we meet after four days apart...

Thanks to those who read this morning's post at Facebook where you can see the camera trap video as well. Life goes on.  This is a quick post before my main blog tomorrow but it was really good to see Asa's condition and attitude after four days apart.  The feeding process is easier now, Asa has an acceptance of the situation and our meeting today in his patch of jungle was really positive.  There is a real edge to the leopard now, a maturity mixed with feeling that he is really relsihing being where he is, calling the shots, where he should be.  I'll talk more about this soon and tomorrow's blog will include our extraordinary meeting last week but it's satisfying to see him like this, pleasing that strategies I have given deep and long thought to are helping in this magnificent animal be wild and free.  Not everyone agreed with this rewilding attempt, and that's ok but overall people are interested and I thank those who are engaging support, it truly helps and something good is happening here in the Himalayan jungle with the leopard Asa... cheers Jack.

New Blog...

"Search for the Mountain Tiger" is the name for my new blog following on from "TigerTrek" and "The Asa Diaries" which were both also published at Facebook and at the WildTiger Conservation Research and Development site www.wildtiger.org

Thank you for your support by following these blogs which are mainly in regard to The Leopard Rewilding Program, Project Mountain Tiger and The Om Prasad Legacy.

Information on the new format for Mountaintiger Photography which is a vital funding avenue for the above projects will be published soon.

Best regards,

Jack