Kabul , Afghanistan ( CNN ) -- A `` surprisingly healthy '' population of rare snow leopards has been discovered in the remote northeastern stretches of Afghanistan , one of the few areas largely unaffected by the near decade-long war in the country . Researchers photographed the elusive big cat using camera traps at 16 different locations across Afghanistan 's mountainous Wakhan Corridor , according to a recent report from the Wildlife Conservation Society . The images are the first camera trap records of snow leopards in Afghanistan , the organization noted . `` This is a wonderful discovery -- it shows that there is real hope for snow leopards in Afghanistan , '' said Peter Zahler , the group 's deputy director . `` Now our goal is to ensure that these magnificent animals have a secure future as a key part of Afghanistan 's natural heritage . '' The organization said the discovery `` gives hope to the world 's most elusive big cat , which calls home to some of the world 's tallest mountains . '' But the endangered animal also faces threats from poachers , shepherds and those who capture the cats for illegal trade . Their populations have declined by as much as 20 % over the past 16 years , the group reported . Researchers estimate between 4,500 and 7,500 snow leopards are left in the wild , scattered across Central Asia .
A population of rare snow leopards has been discovered in Afghanistan . Researchers photographed the elusive big cat using camera traps . The endangered big cat faces threats from poachers and shepherds . Between 4,500 and 7,500 snow leopards are left .