We have recently discovered that mining interests in Mongolia’s South Gobi could threaten the snow leopards we are studying. There are 92 mining permits now covering nearly all of the South Gobi’s Tost Mountains. This area is home to Aztai, Tsagaan, Supermom and dozens of other snow leopards we have come to know over the last year through our long-term study. Currently these permits are issued for exploration, however some have already gone to the exploitation (extraction) phase.