In winter 2024, the Irbis Association provided support for a snow leopard population count in four regions of the Russian Federation: the Republics of Altai, Tyva and Buryatia, and Krasnoyarsk Krai. This census marks the first time since 2015 that the results of the survey also included data on the number of snow leopards in key groups of the species (the Republics of Tyva, Altai and Buryatia) in Russia. data on the number of snow leopards within the boundaries of the Sayano-Shushensky Reserve in the south of Krasnoyarsk Krai, where a project to restore the number of snow leopard groups has been implemented in recent years.
The Association’s partner, Sailugemsky National Park, coordinated the project’s work, which included planning, implementation, control, data collection, and final reporting. The fieldwork participants were employees of federal and regional protected areas and public organizations. Sailugem and Tunka National Parks, Ubsunurskaya Basin, Sayano-Shushensky, Altai Nature Reserves, Tyva Nature Park, Altai Protected Areas Directorate, regional public organization "Siberia," and the volunteer expedition "In the footsteps of the snow leopard."
The most recent census of snow leopards in the Russian Federation, the first since 2015, has documented a minimum of 87 individuals. The Altai Republic has the largest population of irbis, with 54 recorded individuals, including eight females and 18 kittens.
Participants of the survey confirmed the formation of a stable West Sayan group of irbis, comprising 14 individuals, on the West Sayan Ridge at the junction of the Tyva Republic and Krasnoyarsk Krai. This area, designated as "Khan-Daer" in the reserve "Ubsunur Basin," borders the reserve "Sayano-Shushensky." Of these, nine irbises were recorded in the Sayano-Shushensky Reserve, three in the "Khan-Daer" site in Tuva, and two irbises of the group roam between regions and are recorded in two protected areas. By region, the number of snow leopards was distributed as follows:
- Altai Republic: The Altai Republic has 54 snow leopards (8 females and 18 kittens and 28 adults), of which 47 are in the Sailugemsky National Park and adjacent areas, and 7 irbises are within the boundaries of regional specially protected areas.
- The Republic of Tyva has 15 snow leopards (3 females and 7 kittens, 5 adults), of which — 11 individuals — in the Ubsunur Basin Nature Reserve, and 4 irbises — in the Tyva Nature Park;
- Krasnoyarsk Krai: 11 snow leopards (2 females and 5 kittens, 4 adults), all individuals within the boundaries of the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve.
- The Republic of Buryatia has recorded seven snow leopards, including one female with two kittens and four adults.
Notably, all snow leopards were observed outside the boundaries of specially protected natural areas. Additionally, 11 irbis were recorded in the Republic of Tyva based solely on tracking animal tracks in the snow, with no confirmation through camera traps.
Concurrent with the snow leopard census, field workers surveyed the irbis’s diet, which primarily consists of the Siberian ibex.
To enhance the efficiency and streamline the analysis of animal monitoring data in 2024, a project has been initiated at Sailugemsky National Park with the support of the Irbis Association and in cooperation with Sberbank. This project involves the implementation of a system for recognizing individual animal species using artificial intelligence in automatic cameras (photo and video). The implementation of this method will accelerate the biodiversity monitoring system and facilitate the creation of an online database of snow leopards and other animal species.