The document summarizes a study on protecting snow leopards in their habitat on the Tibetan plateau. Researchers found that Tibetan Buddhist monasteries may be better able to protect snow leopards from poaching and retaliatory killing by farmers due to their influence over large areas and ability to enforce strict prohibitions against killing wildlife. Monks consider snow leopards and their habitats sacred and patrol surrounding lands to enforce these edicts. While government programs aim to conserve species, monasteries currently provide safe spaces that help snow leopard populations survive.