This photo taken on Feb. 23, 2024 shows a winter scenery at Ala-Archa National Park, some 30 kilometers away from Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan.

The snow leopard – Kyrgyzstan’s national symbol – is already listed as vulnerable, with fewer than 400 remaining. Ala-Archa is one of their few known habitats near the capital.

Just 25 miles outside Bishkek, Ala Archa National Park’s striking gorge is one of the most beloved nature areas in Kyrgyzstan. In Kyrgyz, ala archa refers to the variegated juniper trees that ...