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.

All-Russian survey of snow leopard numbers and status in key groups of the species in Russia

To mitigate conflicts and threats to the irbis from residents of high-mountain villages living in snow leopard habitat, the Irbis Association supported a program to monitor irbis attacks on local residents' livestock and compensate for damage from attacks by the rare predator.
Results in the Altai Republic:
In the Altai Republic, Sailugem National Park staff have worked to assess the level of conflict between snow leopards and shepherds living in remote mountainous areas. To date, the assessment of threats from shepherds has been completed only for key areas of irbis habitat in the Kosh-Agachsky District of the Altai Republic, where the Sailugemsky National Park is located.
Based on the results of the assessment, experts concluded that there are at least 4−5 documented cases of irbis attacks on cattle of local herders each year in the irbis habitat in the high mountains on the Sailugem and Yuzhno-Chuysky ridges.
A system has been developed for collecting and verifying data on irbis attacks on livestock in the Kosh-Agachsky district of Sailugemsky National Park. This system also includes a compensation program for shepherds, which provides cash or in-kind (livestock) compensation. To inform shepherds about the possibility of receiving compensation for cattle lost as a result of an irbis attack, inspectors and scientists of the Sailugemsky National Park conducted an information campaign among local herders. During this campaign, they explained the agreed scheme of recording and verification of cases of attack by the National Park staff and the scheme of receiving compensation. To date, shepherds have contact information to promptly report cases of attacks on livestock to the National Park staff. Many shepherds have cell phones and the ability to contact each other to ensure prompt reporting.

In 2024, compensation was paid to a shepherd living on the South Chuysky Ridge. The shepherd’s horse was injured, which, according to local residents, was wounded by a snow leopard. According to the characteristic traces of the attack — bites and scratches on the horse’s withers and back — experts confirmed the attack of an irbis. The potential reason for the irbis’s attack on the cattle could be the lack of food in the area, specifically wild ungulates. Employees of the Sailugem National Park suggest that the cattle could have been attacked by a female snow leopard who was teaching her kittens how to hunt. Local residents reported seeing a female snow leopard in the vicinity of the attack and also recorded tracks of irbis in the area.
There is no state program to compensate for damage caused by irbis attacks in the region. Presently, the Sailugem National Park and the Irbis Association are the only entities implementing such a program in the region. In the event of a predator attack, herders are obligated to promptly notify the National Park staff, document the location of the attack with photographs and videos, and experts will promptly visit the location to confirm or deny the snow leopard attack and prepare a report. Each shepherd is required to sign an agreement that stipulates the preservation of snow leopards in the vicinity of the pasture and the prohibition of retaliation against the predator.
In the Republic of Tyva, funds have been allocated to maintain a compensation herd in the Ubsunur Basin Nature Reserve, and ongoing support has been provided to the Tyva Nature Park for the maintenance of a compensation herd established for a program to compensate shepherds for attacks on livestock by a rare predator.
Presently, the only organizations implementing such a program in the region are Sailugem National Park and the Irbis Association. In the event of a predator attack, shepherds are required to immediately notify the national park staff, document the site of the attack with photos and videos, and specialists will promptly go to the site to confirm or deny the fact of a snow leopard attack and make a report. Each herder is required to sign an agreement that stipulates the preservation of snow leopards in the vicinity of the pasture and a ban on retaliation against the predator.
In 2024, the Irbis Association facilitated the purchase of hay for the compensation herd of the Tyva Nature Park for the winter, salt for feeding, and compensation for veterinarians' services. Offering compensation to shepherds for damage caused by predation will reduce conflict and allow for the conservation of snow leopards and the protection of irbis from retaliation by shepherds. Attacks on the livestock of Tuva herders by snow leopards have been regularly recorded in the region in recent years.

Reduction of conflicts between snow leopards and local residents (herders)

As part of the ongoing activities of conservation organizations providing research and conservation of the snow leopard in Russia, scientific expeditions are regularly conducted to organize photo and video monitoring of the population status. These expeditions are supported by the Irbis Association. Thanks to the data from photo and video traps, scientists record the number, behavior, and individuals of irbis. They also monitor changes in the groups and assess the effectiveness of conservation measures.

The Altai Republic demonstrated a notable commitment to conservation efforts, evidenced by the expansion of the camera trap network from 73 to 191 sites. This strategic initiative enabled the effective monitoring of snow leopards and the capture of unique photographic and video documentation. Furthermore, the Altai Republic was the only location where it was possible to replenish the material and technical base of conservation organizations engaged in the study and protection of irbis and argali, and transfer equipment for scientific and conservation activities. This included 118 camera traps and 2 memory cards. 00 units; memory cards — 1350 units; lithium batteries — 1350 units; tents — 6 units; satellite phones — 2 units; navigators — 4 units; binoculars — 12 units; cameras — 3 units; winter and summer suits — 14 units.

The previously installed automatic cameras were reviewed in areas with a high probability of animal passage along the Sailugem, Yuzhno-Chuysky, and Severo-Chuysky ridges, among others. New cameras were then installed.

In the reserve "Ubsunurskaya Basin," as part of the All-Russian inventory, we successfully surveyed the remote areas of the reserve, including "Mongun-Taiga," "Khan-Daer," the Chikhachev Ridge, and Tsagan-Shibetu, as well as the Sangilen Plateau. This initiative was made possible with the support of the Association "Irbis."

A female with two kittens were discovered at one of the sites. The five recorded females in the Reserve have separated from their mothers and are now leading independent lives. It is presumed that the female may have participated in the rut this year, which would indicate the imminent arrival of new kittens.

Despite challenging weather conditions, the expedition successfully completed all 15 routes, with the exception of one. The weather also impacted the camera traps, which were installed in a total of 32 locations within the "Mongun-Taiga" cluster. These camera traps, provided by the Interregional Association "Irbis," are crucial for wildlife monitoring in the region. Half of these camera traps were successfully checked as part of the accounting process, but the remaining cameras are currently inaccessible due to heavy snowfall. The plan is to conduct the remaining checks during the warm season. In the Republic of Tyva, it is anticipated that snow leopards will give birth to camera traps this summer. The analysis of these traps will provide more precise information on the number of irbis in this section of the reserve.

Krasnoyarsk Territory, Sayano-Shushensky ReserveIn 2024, a portion of the snow leopard research initiatives were executed with the backing of the Irbis Association along the northern border of the species' Russian and global range — within the boundaries of the Sayano-Shushensky Reserve. The reserve also participated in a comprehensive survey of snow leopards in Russia. During the research expedition, staff members of the Sayano-Shushensky Reserve obtained new data on the snow leopard family, including the female Klyopa and her two kittens born in 2023. According to photographic and video documentation, the two young irbis are female. The determination of the young irbis’s sex is a significant and joyous event, as it is the females that will be capable of producing new offspring in the future. This will contribute to the strengthening of the existing group of snow leopards and the increase of the Reserve’s wildlife population. In March, a working meeting was held between the staff of the Sayano-Shushensky and Ubsunurskaya Basin nature reserves. During this meeting, the specialists exchanged photomonitoring data and agreed on a joint survey of snow leopards.

The Reserve’s staff, with the support of the Association, led an expedition to protect the snow leopard in the Sayan Mountains of the southern Krasnoyarsk Territory. State inspectors from the Joint Directorate of the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve and the Shushensky Bor National Park surveyed the Reserve’s territory, following routes up to 150 kilometers long within the snow leopard habitats. This work included surveying known habitats within the Reserve and studying areas suitable for irbis habitat to search for traces of the species' presence and expand information on its spatial structure. Automatic photorecorders were used; during the spring, summer, and autumn seasons, the photo traps were checked, prepared for winter, and their location was adjusted to optimize data collection.
Notably, at the close of 2024, a female irbis, introduced to the reserve from Tajikistan in 2019, was recorded in front of a camera trap with two kittens. This marks the third litter born in the reserve, and the female has successfully raised seven kittens over a six-year period. By the close of the year, the Sayano-Shushensky Reserve’s snow leopard population reached 13 individuals, a testament to the efficacy of translocation as a strategy for augmenting populations with low numbers.

Based on the results of scientific monitoring of irbis in the Sayano-Shushensky Reserve, as well as a comparison of the results of the study of the species in the bordering cluster "Khan-Daer" of the reserve "Ubsunur Basin," scientists have concluded that there is a single Western Sayan group of irbis, which lives in the Sayano-Shushensky Reserve and in the reserve "Ubsunur Basin." A total of at least 14 snow leopards were observed, including three adult breeding females, four males, and seven kittens.

The results obtained suggest an improvement in the status of the snow leopard population in the Sayano-Shushensky Reserve. Currently, the focus is self-replicating: snow leopards born in the Reserve are dispersing to neighboring territories. This necessitates continued observations, including areas outside the PA, to better understand the distribution of the snow leopard at the northern limit of its range and strengthen the system of habitat protection.

Ongoing monitoring of the number and condition of snow leopard groups

In fall 2024, the Association "Irbis" supported a population survey of the Altai mountain sheep in the transboundary zone of Russia and Mongolia. The Association’s partner, Sailugem National Park, coordinated the work. This included planning, implementation, monitoring, data collection, and final report. The Association "Irbis" supported the counting of the Altai mountain sheep population in Russia and Mongolia, allowing the team to cover the key habitats of the species in the transboundary zone of the two countries. The following organizations participated in the survey: Sailugemsky National Park, Ubsunurskaya Basin and Altai Nature Reserves, Altai Nature Parks Directorate, and in Mongolia, the administration of the Mongolian Altai Protected Area.

According to the results of the recent census, the population of argali in the transboundary zone of the Russian Federation and Mongolia has reached an all-time high, surpassing the number in neighboring Mongolia for the first time in a decade. The census recorded a total of 4,074 argali, representing 88% of the all-Russian population. These findings highlight the significant presence of rare Altai mountain sheep in the border regions of the Altai and Tyva Republics, which border Mongolia. The census encompassed all habitats where transboundary groups of argali are present, totaling 7,978 individuals. Of these, 3,756 were located in the Altai Republic, which serves as the primary habitat for argali in Russia, while 318 were in the neighboring Tyva Republic. Additionally, 2,240 argali were recorded on the Sailugem Ridge in Mongolia, and 1,664 were situated within the Uvs-aimak region. It is noteworthy that last year, 2,957 individuals were documented in Russia and 4,024 in Mongolia.

Below is the dynamics of the number of argali for example — only within the boundaries of Sailugemsky National Park — the main partner of the Irbis Association in the Altai Republic:
2015 — 525 individuals;
2016 — 835 individuals;
2017 — 976 individuals;
2018 — 1154 individuals;
2019 — 1008 individuals;
2020 — 1,583 individuals;
2021 — 1,812 individuals;
2022 — 2,488 individuals;
2023 — 2,644 individuals;
2024 — 3,588 individuals.

Among the priority measures for the conservation of the Argali group in the transboundary zone, experts call for the expansion of protected areas and the development and implementation of compensatory economic mechanisms for the local population to benefit from the presence of Argali in their territory. The following measures have been identified as priority actions for the conservation of the Argali group in the transboundary zone:
— The expansion of protected areas
— The development and implementation of compensatory economic mechanisms for the local population to benefit from the presence of Argali on their lands
— The development of informative ecological tourism
— The development of handicrafts
— The strengthening of raids by interdepartmental anti-poaching teams in Tuva and Altai
— The monitoring of plans for exploration and mining in the habitat of the irbis

The Irbis Association has been committed to the conservation of Saker falcons since 2021, releasing a total of 15 young Saker falcons of the Altai morph into the wild in 2024 through a collaborative effort with the Sailugemsky National Park in the Altai Republic. These chicks were gradually acclimated to their new environment in the Saker Falcon habitat at the park. The chicks are initially placed in enclosures with one wall covered by a fence net, a method of "heckling," which prepares chicks less than a month old, who have not yet developed flapping wings, for release into the wild. The chicks are fed in a way that prevents contact with humans until they are ready to fly and learn to hunt. The enclosed hake provides a secure environment, protecting the nursery chicks from inclement weather, including wind, rain, and hail, as well as predators. This hake offers superior protection for the chicks compared to a natural nest. During their 3−5 week stay in the hake, Saker Falcons undergo a process of adaptation to the climate and future habitat, a process that is more efficient than what is observed in birds released into the wild as adults. Subsequently, the netting is removed, and the birds are released. In the summer of 2024, the staff of Sailugemsky National Park trained the birds to hunt in the wild.

Since 2021, Sailugemsky National Park, in collaboration with donors including the Irbis Association and various nurseries, has successfully released 46 young falcons into the Altai Mountains via the "heckling" method. These falcons have adapted well to their new environment and have demonstrated remarkable hunting abilities. The releases have occurred in various years of the project, with 12 birds released in 2021, 12 birds in 2022, 7 birds in 2023, and 15 birds in 2024.

In September, the Irbis Association played a pivotal role in organizing the pavilion "Falcon House" at the Eastern Economic Forum, as part of the "Street of the Far East" exhibition. The Association also presented its expertise in falcon conservation at the "Digitalization and modern technologies in the service of monitoring falconiform birds and other animals. Business Support" session at the II International Forum "Day of the Falcon."

The Irbis Association is committed to supporting the efforts of conservation departments and inspectors in preventing conservation violations in habitats of rare species, including those of snow leopards.

Altai Republic
The Irbis Association provided support to the Sailugem National Park. Through enhanced efficiency, the park’s inspectors identified residents of the Altai Republic who were engaged in illegal hunting activities within the Shavlinsky National Park.

The villagers had planned to harvest musk deer using metal loops, which are strictly prohibited in the Altai Republic. Employees of the Sailugemsky National Park observed evidence of the offenders on the reserve’s territory and traced their path, which led towards the Shavlinsky Reserve, located near the park’s boundaries. The inspectors located the offenders in a hunting lodge.
To ensure a prompt and effective resolution of the environmental violation, the investigative and operational team was transported to the location by helicopter. The Irbis Association provided the necessary resources for this operation.

In addition, the Association’s support in 2024 enabled the evacuation of a nature protection inspector from the Republic of Altai. The inspector had been injured during a raid in a remote mountainous area, which is home to the endangered species known as the snow leopard. The inspector was airlifted to a medical facility for treatment.

Republic of TyvaThe Irbis Association recently donated an all-terrain vehicle to the Ubsunurskaya Basin Nature Reserve in the Republic of Tyva. This vehicle is intended for use in the "Mongun-Taiga," "Kara-Khol," and "Khan-Daer" areas, which are particularly challenging to access due to their mountainous terrain, steep slopes, and stony landscape. This vehicle will enhance the efficiency of research operations, raids, and security activities due to its advanced cross-country capabilities, which allow for year-round use, even during periods of heavy snowfall. The vehicle has a seating capacity of five and is equipped with an autonomous heater, ensuring comfortable conditions for scientists and inspectors in a range of weather conditions.

The vehicle will assist the Reserve’s staff in conducting scientific activities and traveling to remote mountain villages during the implementation of the project to resolve the conflict between shepherds and snow leopards. It will also support the organization of anti-poaching patrols.

Irbis Association specialists took part in a number of international and Russian meetings, conferences, and forums dedicated to environmental conservation, sharing their experience in the conservation of rare species with experts in the field.

Please find below a list of the key events of 2024 with the participation of Irbis Association experts.

• A roundtable discussion was held in the Altai Republic to discuss current methods of monitoring snow leopard populations. The event brought together a diverse group of professionals, including employees of conservation organizations from Tajikistan, representatives of regional ministries from the Republic of Altai and the Republic of Tatarstan, experts from LLC "Karym", Sailugem National Park, and scientists from the Institute of Problems of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The discussion also included representatives from the business and media sectors, fostering a comprehensive and inclusive dialogue on Russian-Tajik cooperation in the field of study and conservation of the irbis.
• The Ninth Joint Russian-Mongolian Commission meeting convened experts to discuss the achievements and plans for collaborative work between the two countries in areas that the Irbis Association has been actively supporting for many years in the field of environmental education, monitoring, and protection.
• At the expert session "Artificial Intelligence in Climate Science" of the BRICS Scientific and Educational Congress on Ecology and Climate Change, the Association's staff presented the results of the Irbis Association's work and discussed the role of business in supporting scientific research and wildlife monitoring.
• The Association's staff participated in the 9th World Conference on Mountain Ungulates in Dushanbe, which brought together representatives of specially protected areas and conservation organizations from around the world.The experts exchanged their experience in mountain ungulates research, discussed successes and conservation methods.Irbis Association is one of the organizers of the pavilion "House of the Falcon" at the Eastern Economic Forum within the framework of the exhibition "Street of the Far East". At the Falcon House, visitors gained insight into the unique characteristics of birds of prey in the falcon family, the challenges posed by the gyrfalcon population's decline, and the measures implemented to support them. The event also featured an organized stand, providing a platform for discussion and knowledge exchange.
• The Association provided support to the Tunkinsky National Park and facilitated the participation of its staff in a field training seminar in Mongolia. This seminar was attended by specialists from the Khubsugul National Park and the Ulaan Taiga Nature Reserve, also located in Mongolia. The staff of the public organization "Siberia" (Irkutsk), who have been studying irbis in the Eastern Sayan for many years, served as event experts.
• An international expedition on irbis research for Russian-Mongolian experts to the territory of Mongolia in the Gobi Desert was organized. The participants included specialists from Sailugemsky National Park, Irbis Association, and volunteers.Sailugem National Park regularly exchanges information with conservation organizations in the north of Mongolia, and the expedition provided an opportunity to share experience and data on research and protection of irbis.
• The international conference "Zoo for All" in the Moscow Zoo, organized with support from the Union of Zoos and Aquariums of Russia (SOZAR) to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the Moscow Zoo's establishment, united the directors of Russia's zoos, representatives of public organizations, veterinary and environmental services, and protected areas.
• Ассоциация «Ирбис» также стала победителем Национальной экологической премии В. И. Вернадского в номинации «Сохранение экосистем и биоразнообразия».
• The Irbis Association was also honored with the V. I. Vernadsky National Ecological Award in the category of "Conservation of Ecosystems and Biodiversity."

In 2024, the Association facilitated the participation of its employees in special trips to countries within the snow leopard range. These trips were designed to foster knowledge exchange with colleagues in Mongolia and India.

In partnership with "Dvizhenie Pervykh", an eco-action to promote the conservation of the irbis was organized, and its results were presented at the exhibition of the "Dvizhenie Pervykh" festival in Moscow. More than 5 thousand young scientists from all over Russia joined the project: within the framework of the All-Russian action schoolchildren and students of secondary vocational education organizations from 6 to 17 years old created unique posters with the image of the irbis. The best works of the participants were exhibited at VDNKh, and all participants received certificates, diplomas and gifts.

Eco-education in partnership with “Dvizhenie Pervykh”

In June, a documentary film that explores "the Owner of the Altai mountains", the first feature-length film about the snow leopard, which premiered in 2023, was released in General Russian hire, and in July the film became available to subscribers online cinema OKKO.

The Irbis Association organized charity screenings of the film for children in Moscow, Gorno-Altaysk, Kazan, Orel, Voronezh, Khanty-Mansiysk, Veliky Novgorod, Vladivostok, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk and other Russian cities. An example of a charity screening for schoolchildren together with the Konstantin Khabensky Foundation at the RCB.

The film became a winner and a prize-winner at prestigious Russian and international film festivals.:

• The film won the best in the "Best Documentary" nomination of the International Environmental Television Festival "Save and Preserve".
• The film won the nomination "the Best documentary about animal" on Festival Internacional de Animal Cine y Ambiental in Mexico, the film won the audience award at the contemporary science film Festival the FUNK.
• Diploma for the "victory" in the nomination "Reserved Russia" at the "Reasonable Cinema" festival.
• In the nomination "We are in charge", the film of the Association "Irbis" won the first place according to the expert jury and the second place in the popular vote of the Komsomolskaya Pravda 2024 National Environmental Award.
• The premiere of the film took place in Kazakhstan at the Turan Doc Film Documentary Film Festival. The way of life is an expedition."
• The film won prizes from the Nature Defenders Foundation for the best environmental film andIrkutsk branch of the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation.
• The presentation of the film took place at the Golden Turtle Festival as part of the section "Reserved Extreme: the most challenging wildlife research".

Research film “Master of the Altai Mountains”

In June, the Moscow Zoo opened a new, modern enclosure for snow leopards with the support of the Irbis Association. The enclosure is designed for the lives of Daina and Untsik irbises, who arrived from the Center for Reproduction of Rare Species of Animals at the Moscow Zoo. The aviary can house several snow leopards comfortably at the same time, allowing the pair to have offspring.
The aviary’s design is inspired by a mountainous landscape, featuring a tiered rocky slope populated with various plant species, including mountain and meadow grasses, spruce and pine trees, ash and thuja trees, birch and juniper trees, and perennial grasses and mosses. The diet of the irbis is supplemented with edible plants, ensuring their well-being and health during the summer months. The aviary’s design incorporates features to cater to the snow leopards' natural behaviors, including vertical slopes, and features a mesh roof that allows the animals to jump between the visitor’s view and the upper levels. The Association serves as the official guardian of the snow leopards at the Moscow Zoo.

The modern enclosure for snow leopards in the Moscow Zoo

In June, the Kazan Kremlin hosted the opening of the interactive exhibition "Irbis. Invisible Cat," which was organized by the Irbis Association and supported by the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan. The exposition features seven unique multitouch objects, including stands that visitors can touch and hear the voice of the snow leopard. The exhibition aims to raise awareness about the snow leopard’s decline in Russia.

The exhibition previously toured the Moscow Zoo and was also hosted in Nizhny Novgorod, attracting a combined total of over 25 million visitors from 2022 to 2024. Currently, the exhibition is being presented in the Kazan Kremlin.

Multimedia-interactive exposition in the Moscow Zoo “Irbis. Invisible Cat”

The Association partnered with the XIV ecological festival, "Land of the Snow Leopard," which aimed to raise awareness about the conservation of the irbis. The culmination of the republican festival took place in Gorno-Altaisk, the capital of the Altai Republic, with the participation of regional residents. The event featured a solemn procession of children dressed as snow leopards and a contest of creative performances. The jury determined the winners in three age categories and in several nominations: "Spotted crafts," "Artistic snow leopard," "Drawing Irbis," "Spotted poetry," and others. The team from Ongudai district, operating under the name "Snow Barsyata," secured the primary prize, which included a monetary award of 150 thousand rubles from the association "Irbis" and a wooden trophy crafted into the form of a snow leopard’s head (nomination "Friends-Barsyata").

XIV Ecological Festival “Land of the Snow Leopard”

The results of the significant environmental initiative, "In the Footsteps of Irbis," are showcased at the Festival of "Dvizhenie Pervykh" in Moscow. As part of the All-Russian campaign, students from 6 to 17 years old created original posters depicting the Irbis. Since the beginning of the year, more than 5,000 young nativists from across Russia have participated in the initiative.
The best works from the competition will be presented at VDNKh, and all participants will be awarded certificates, diplomas, and gifts from the Irbis Association.

Environmental action “In the footsteps of Irbis” of “Dvizhenie Pervykh”

The Irbis Association is a key partner in the conservation of snow leopards and argalis in the Altai Republic, and it actively supports the work in the field of environmental education in the Sailugem National Park.
For the New Year, the Interregional Association "Irbis" gave sweet gifts to the children of Beltirsky boarding school: gingerbread with the image of a snow leopard and coloring books about irbis titled "Altai Adventures. Paths of Animals." Beltir secondary school expressed their personal gratitude to Ali Uzdenov, Chairman of the General Assembly of the Association "Irbis". Approximately one hundred children visited the Sailugem Christmas tree, including members of eco-clubs from KOAP (Tashanta village), "Steppe Golden Eagles" and "Luchiki" (Tyukova Kosh-Agachskaya secondary school), "Ecoline" and "Green Patrol" (Aktashskaya secondary school), Zhana-Aul village secondary school, Beltyrskaya secondary school boarding school, and children of Sailugem National Park staff.

Environmental education in the Altai Republic

As part of the "Day of Ecology" at the International Exhibition-Forum "Russia" in Moscow, an agreement was signed between the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Interregional Association "Center for the Study and Conservation of the Snow Leopard 'Irbis.'"In December, the Government of the Altai Republic and the Interregional Association "Irbis" signed a cooperation agreement. This document paves the way for an innovative approach to the study and conservation of the Altai Republic’s fauna, including its unique red-listed snow leopards, Siberian ibexes, and argali. The agreement stipulates the provision of equipment, machinery, and other necessary resources to the region’s specialized ministry. The Association is committed to providing comprehensive scientific and methodological support.

Ali Uzdenov, Chairman of the General Assembly of the Interregional Association "Irbis", has been honored with the Order of Alexander Nevsky, bestowed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.