Spot the ‘ghost of the mountain’ in this picture, if you can

HIDING in plain sight somewhere in this photo is a snow leopard. Only the select few can spot the “Ghost of the Mountain”.

DUE to its mystique, the snow leopard is often referred to as the “Ghost of the Mountains”.

Found in Central Asia, the big cat’s thick, spotted coat not only provides great insulation for the cold, but also provides the perfect camouflage.

Can you spot the snow leopard in this picture? Picture: Pen News.

It may look like this is just a photo of the Mongolian landscape, but there is a snow leopard lurking in the photo, which is incredible rare, as they are rarely seen in the wild.

Snow leopards prefer to dwell in steep cliff areas, because it gives them the perfect backdrop to disappear, which gives them the upper hand so they can ambush their prey. Clearly not afraid of heights, they can be found at altitudes of up to 5181 metres.

They are nicknamed "Ghost of the Mountain" for a reason. Picture: Pen News

Snow leopards are particularly stealthy, they can leap 15 metres and can take down animals up to three times their own size, according to WWF.

They have one sole predator — humans, of course.

It is estimated as many as four leopards die every week however, killings go undetected in remote regions.

Some are killed for attacking livestock, some are killed in acts of illegal poaching.

Habitat loss, conflict with mountain graziers and climate change also impact the decline population. There’s somewhere between 4000 to 6000 snow leopards left in the wild.