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National Geographic Wild kicks off big cat week

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  • Description

    'Snow Leopard of Afghanistan' goes on mission to find rare animal

  • Duration 5:24
  • Date

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-- -- -- -- -- That is a clip from Nat geo.

-- wild snow leopard of Afghanistan.

The show's cameras going -- the middle of a war zone following a man on the successful mission to track down and capture one of -- most elusive.

Big cats on.

-- show airs this Sunday joining me live is -- Smith is the big cat Wrangler featured on Nat geo wild the snow leopards that.

Had to stand -- If you've heard my voice cracked their program it's because of a friend into the studio who's taking me a little nervous -- -- you have here.

We did bring your friend today we brought the five month old Bengal tiger share his name is Jake great on his one of our animal but ambassadors that we brought along two.

Help promote and show some awareness for now -- -- upcoming big -- week where we're gonna feature tigers.

Leopards lions and Holler snow leopard staffers and not just -- what -- mood is right now since he -- particularly feisty Jake is five months old so he's kind of like big kid.

-- he's curious he's playful he's rambunctious.

And really that's what he wants to be is kind of big puppy just wants to play a -- And is there any chance of him devouring the -- during this segment you know I think you're relatively safe after the day we've had we fed him a little bit and he's been doing good it doesn't.

Well so let's not snow leopards you have called and the holy Grail all.

Of animals why you know just for me personally when I when I look and all the big cats are amazing and incredible but there's just something about this snow leopard there in the countries where they're found their their mythical they're legendary -- -- the spirit of the mountain.

And you know -- just kinda creates an image of you know kind of at the top the chain -- some -- Unseen unfounded we wanted to see you -- if we could do that.

Atlanta senate they're only 2000 of them left in the world and you and other wildlife experts are trying to preserve them.

Why did you have to go to Afghanistan to do that -- we went to Afghanistan because we didn't really know there was a good -- for population and we discovered.

-- they had some sightings and some on information that led us to believe there was a healthy population.

And so we went there because it's it's a new population we want -- -- -- interest up enough to say hi I.

I can't say that -- wants -- little camera I had I had I'm happy to oblige them from there and when you Afghanistan of course that's an there's so much violence and warm and unrest so why do you worry out of Russia with the Taliban.

-- you know we were fortunate enough that we always were at least five hours from the Taliban we we're near to some assassination attempts.

We.

Border Patrol.

Not to supper time or two we had guns in our faces and and we did all this to get under the mountains Cuba.

Be able to track one of the most elusive cats on the planet.

If those terrifying than what was it like to spend time in Afghanistan yeah.

You know every emotion was extreme when we were happy and excited and when we cut the -- we were excited top of the world hi Jake.

Thick wet when we were scared we're just like -- right now scared to death.

This.

Emotions were extreme movement which peaks over the anchor desk -- -- -- looking for exactly.

I just want to say hi this wants to -- up and say -- -- at some.

It's so so how did you catch the snow leopard.

We we cut the snow leopard with a combination of great local knowledge from the local Afghans who were involved in the process they told you where they'd spotted some are about who we actually -- -- -- conservation society -- -- house local ranger crew there.

And those guys have been out.

Months in advance preparing scouting with -- biologists.

And so we had some areas.

Can and minimize down to where we wanted to focus and we we captured and using this there.

-- which is we've developed some really animal safety protocols OK what what just happened there.

Take just jumped I just played it didn't get a general Teddy bear he's just -- up.

Do you think Jake is adorable at -- -- -- -- as a wild animal that -- house.

But you know that's -- teach people as they are wild animals and we wanna keep from -- when we wanna make sure that there all over the world in the places that they need to be.

And we should mention that you captured the snow leopard only so that you can put a collar on him or her and -- her -- this is the first successful capture color and release of a snow leopard in the wild in Afghanistan so now we can monitor the information that comes in from the caller.

And understand cash.

And I understand movements.

As social intricacies of the species and learn enough about him that we can save them.

Jake Mikey just out of curiosity energy should have -- -- to next after this ticking at Turkey -- that is going to be his dinner.

-- -- Jake looks like he's -- working -- appetites so again be sure to tune in for this amazing show as Nat geo wild takes you to one of the most dangerous places on earth.

Not this studio is -- -- Dennis -- Snow -- -- Afghanistan airing this Sunday December -- 8 PM eastern time 7 PM Pacific then thanks so much pleasure to -- you hit -- -- -- good luck with -- We will have agreed -- by -- See you later half a catch up up up you could go get -- thank if you are so good club and stayed in our.

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