The gracious snow leopard is an endangered species, and in their natural habitat of central Asia, there are just 2,000 left. Deep in the Kyrgyz mountains lies a rehabilitation centre for the magnificent creatures.

Viktor Kulagin, who's been managing the centre since 2002, has everything running like clockwork, from security to caretaking to feeding.

The snow leopards, saved from poachers by customs officers, have been transferred to the centre, where they are given safety and nurturing. There are three leopards in the centre – Alsu, Bagira, and Kunak. All were confiscated as cubs, and it took a long time to make them feel safe and secure.

“Bagira has two fingers missing from her front paw. Alsu has an entire front paw missing. Those were injuries caused by poachers. They set traps for the leopards, and those two got caught as cubs. But because of those injuries, the leopards would not survive in the wild. So we have to take care of them,” Mr Kulagin said.

The centre has been under pressure from the government recently. Kyrgyz officials want what Viktor calls a 'show release' – in other words they want to set the snow cats free. But the centre's director knows that would only harm the creatures.

“Look at what we feed them here. Beef, veal, rabbit. They don't know how to hunt. They don't know the smell of prey. And they aren't the kind of animals who live in packs, like wolves. They live alone, and if set free, they'll go for the scent they know, and attack the stock of local farmers, who will kill them,” Victor says.

There are only 200 snow leopards left in Russia. And their welfare is endangered more and more each day. That is why rehabilitation centres are essential to their survival.

And they certainly appear to be in good hands. Living on several thousand square metres' worth of land adapted for their comfort, the leopards exist under the watchful eye of Viktor and his employees.