This Earth Day, let’s see why we should be celebrating, appreciating, and protecting animals on Earth Day—and every day. Animals are also part of our identity and culture, and our attitude toward them is a reflection of the way we value our planet.

Snow leopards are known as the “ghosts of the mountains,” a nod to their excellent camouflage and compelling mystique. But the specter of extinction haunts these cats, and if conservation efforts are not sustained and supported, snow leopards may become no more than ghosts afterall.