Animal Stories
The Beautiful and Mysterious Snow Leopard
Legend from Afghanistan/Pakistan
The beautiful Snow Leopard is an elusive cat from the mountains of Afghanistan, Pakistan and other parts of South and Central Asia. Its mysteriousness is such that the Snow Leopard is celebrated in folklore and legends handed down in the oral tradition from generation to generation.
Pari are female supernatural denizens of the high mountains. People in Afghanistan and Pakistan are familiar with Pari. The Wakhi ethnic population also from this area have their own word for Pari: Mergichan.
In the Pamir region of northern Pakistan, the herders say that the pasture regions are a part of a spirit realm called Mergich. In order to find good hunting and herding areas, one must respect the laws and customs of the spirits who govern this realm, the Mergichan, who often take the shape of animals to communicate with humans. The most revered and powerful of these is the beautiful Snow Leopard, and it is believed that without the help of the Snow Leopard, no hunter can ever succeed.
The Snow Leopard legends show that the animal is respected and folklore suggests the Snow Leopard is to be treated as equal to humans. The use of the Snow Leopard's land for sustenance and survival is equated with help from other humans in times of need.
Legend from Afghanistan/Pakistan
The beautiful Snow Leopard is an elusive cat from the mountains of Afghanistan, Pakistan and other parts of South and Central Asia. Its mysteriousness is such that the Snow Leopard is celebrated in folklore and legends handed down in the oral tradition from generation to generation.
Pari are female supernatural denizens of the high mountains. People in Afghanistan and Pakistan are familiar with Pari. The Wakhi ethnic population also from this area have their own word for Pari: Mergichan.
In the Pamir region of northern Pakistan, the herders say that the pasture regions are a part of a spirit realm called Mergich. In order to find good hunting and herding areas, one must respect the laws and customs of the spirits who govern this realm, the Mergichan, who often take the shape of animals to communicate with humans. The most revered and powerful of these is the beautiful Snow Leopard, and it is believed that without the help of the Snow Leopard, no hunter can ever succeed.
The Snow Leopard legends show that the animal is respected and folklore suggests the Snow Leopard is to be treated as equal to humans. The use of the Snow Leopard's land for sustenance and survival is equated with help from other humans in times of need.