Once upon a time, there was a boy named Shiv Kumar who lived in a small town in the Lahaul Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India. Shiv was a kind and curious kid who loved the natural world and all its inhabitants. Everyone in the snowy mountains of his valley knew him. He was calm and friendly, and his excitement for exploring the mountains was infectious. 

Shiv loved to trek, explore new places, learn about the wildlife in and around his village, and share stories about his adventures in the wild. People admired how much he cared for wildlife, especially the secretive snow leopard, which was his favorite animal. They said Shiv had a special gift—he could find clues in the snow that no one else could see. Whether it was animal tracks or a tiny feather, he always figured out the story behind it. 

Shiv had many friends in school who came from nearby villages and valleys. Almost all of them had seen the elusive snow leopard, often called the ‘grey ghost of the Himalayas’. But Shiv had never spotted one in the wild and dreamed of the day he would. His friends often suggested that he visit the nearby valleys where snow leopard sightings were common. But Shiv always insisted, “No, I want to see the snow leopard near my own village.” 

He often thought to himself, The mountains and valleys here are just like those in other places. There’s plenty of food for a snow leopard to survive here. So why haven’t I seen one yet? Deep down, Shiv was sure he hadn’t searched carefully enough. He believed that if he kept looking, he would eventually find one. He wasn’t ready to give up. Shiv knew that nature had its own secrets, and one day, his efforts might just turn out to be fruitful.

It was a cold winter evening. Shiv and his friend were walking through the snow-covered landscape, enjoying the peaceful silence. As they explored their surroundings, Shiv suddenly spotted something unusual—pugmarks in the snow and a trail leading upslope, as if something had been dragged. The next morning, Shiv woke up early, eager to solve the mystery. At 5.30 AM, he returned to the same spot. 

As he walked down the slope, he noticed signs of a struggle—blood on the snow and bits of fur scattered around. He climbed upslope, following the drag marks, and soon found out what had happened. He noticed that an animal resembling a goat had been hunted by a predator. As he moved closer, he realised it was the remains of an Asiatic ibex—one of the largest mountain goat species with huge, curved horns, and a favorite prey of the snow leopard. 

Shiv felt a rush of excitement. Could there be a snow leopard around? he wondered. He knew these big cats often returned to their kill. He wished he could stay there, but he had to return home as it was getting dark and it wasn’t safe to stay there alone. Later that evening, Shiv returned to the spot with his friend Aman, an adult named Guddu, and a camera. They sat quietly, waiting for the snow leopard to appear. 

Time passed slowly, and the sun began to set. Just as they were about to give up, Shiv glanced around one last time.

And there it was—a snow leopard, standing tall and proud, like it was on guard duty.

It looked directly into Shiv’s camera, almost as if it knew it was being watched. Shiv held his breath, amazed by the beauty and power of the big cat. 

“This is a moment I’ll never forget,” Shiv whispered to his friends. The snow leopard disappeared into the shadows, but Shiv’s heart was full. He had seen one of nature’s most elusive creatures, and it felt like a gift from the wild. This was a life changing moment for Shiv. He decided he will spread awareness and educate everyone about the importance of conservation, and guard these animals and plants till his last breath.

Authors’ Note: This story is inspired from life experiences of a Deputy Forest Ranger named Shiv Kumar, who lives in Lahaul Valley, Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. He has been a part of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department for more than 20 years. Everyone, from forest guards to the Divisional Forest Officers know him and appreciate his work. Even the locals of the region talk about his love for wildlife. He has worked with various institutions including the Wildlife Institute of India, Zoological Survey of India, Nature Conservation Foundation, and several foreign researchers for conservation of wildlife in his region, especially the snow leopard. He is calm, down-to-earth and always excited for new adventures. Shiv Kumar is an inspiration for many.