To aid the conservation effort, locals like Elaman Omurbekov are employed as rangers by the Snow Leopard Foundation, Kyrgyzstan, which works in coordination with the international Snow Leopard Trust. Their local knowledge and their expertise in the high mountains are essential. Many of the rangers used to be herders and hunters, but now they use their skills and experience in the harsh environment to help scientists and filmmakers. The former leave camera traps to monitor wildlife. Triggered automatically by infrared sensors, they can be left for months at a time, providing a unique insight into the secret lives of the animals here.