Kathmandu, Aug. 12 -- One of the most powerful recent examples of hyperlocal conservation in the Himalaya is the effort by two sisters from Dolpo, Tshiring Lhamu Lama and Sonam Choekyi Lama, to protect Nepal's snow leopards.

Their decade-long work to save the endangered and elusive Himalayan cat in this distant district in Nepal is now featured in a compelling new documentary.

The Snow Leopard Sisters has been doing the rounds of film festivals in North America to critical acclaim since its world premiere at SXSW in Austin in March, and has been screened at Telluride and other festivals.

The documentary received much praise for its many-layered depiction of the struggle between ecology and economics, tradition and modernity, indigenous...