Afghan Tragedy: Death of a Snow Leopard

Ailing
The snow leopard was taken to the atrium of a guesthouse, and an American veterinarian, Richard Fite, was called in to help nurse it back to health. When he looked into the feline's eyes, Fite says, he could see that it was ailing. "All I could think of was the tragedy of it all. The mental stress on the animal from capture, transport, being bound and being held for almost a week would have been unimaginable."

• To Save a Snow Leopard: A Special Mission in Afghanistan