Summer 2025: The days we went to our school camp were the most interesting and unforgettable. The camp was located in the mountains, in a quiet area with tall junipers and clean air, a place where you can relax your soul.
One morning, several students and our camp leader went on a hiking trip to the mountains. The sun was warm, the sky was clear, and the sounds of deer, marmots, and birds were lively; the surrounding air smelled of nature. As we stopped along the way for a drink and admired the nature, our leader said to us:
Children, there are rare animals here, the most valuable of which is a snow leopard. It is a great happiness to see it!
We all looked with interest and hope and continued on our way. After walking a long way, we came to a large rock and something unexpected happened. Farther away, on a high rock, stood a large, beautiful animal with white fur glistening. It noticed us, but looked at us calmly and without fear. Our guide whispered:
It’s a snow leopard!
We all stood there breathless, staring. The leopard was very beautiful, with a large, strong body, a long tail, and deep, intelligent eyes. It looked at us for a long time, then slowly turned around, jumped between the stones and disappeared.
We will remember this day for our entire lives. Our guide explained to us:
It is rare to see a snow leopard in the wild. This is a gift from nature to us!
After that day, we deeply understood that we must always remember the snow leopard, protect it, and preserve nature. This event became the greatest memory of the camp.
We asked the students what they enjoyed about their time at camp, if they think coexistence with wildlife is possible and how they define nature. Read some of their insightful responses below:
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Photo credits: Snow Leopard Trust, SLF-Kyrgyzstan
I also would love to preserve all the living beings on the Earth including farm animals, animals bred for laboratory research etc.
It is truly heartbreaking to see so many animals in peril.
I pray every day that GOD will bring swift relief to my heartache.
It’s wonderful to see young people educated about our beautiful world and the animals that GOD has placed on Earth for our enjoyment.