Kathmandu, May 17 -- What has helped save the endangered snow leopard thus far is that it lives in the world's most inhospitable mountain terrain. But this is changing as new roads improve access, making the elusive cats more vulnerable to those who mean it harm.

Research into the behaviour and ecosystem of snow leopardsis therefore an important part of protecting them, and a new international survey has shown that Nepal leads other snow leopard range states in studying and conserving the threatened species.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) study,Over 100 Years of Snow Leopard Research,shows that 74% of the snow leopard habitat in northern Nepal has been the subject of research into the species.

Most of the snow leopard's vast 1.7 million...