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There's no such thing as an alien leopard
A field meeting of the expert section on snow leopard conservation was convened in the Altai Republic, held within the framework of the federal project "Conservation of biological diversity and development of ecological tourism" of the National Project "Ecology," with support from the Association "Center for the Study and Conservation of the snow leopard Irbis."
During the meeting, the experts deliberated on the strategy for the conservation of the Altai mountain sheep (Argali), summarized the results of snow leopard surveys in the Altai Republic in 2023, and discussed the possibilities of transboundary cooperation between Russia and Mongolia in the field of conservation and study of the snow leopard. Among the primary tasks identified by the experts was the development of a conservation strategy plan for the Altai mountain sheep.
During the meeting, the experts deliberated on the strategy for the conservation of the Altai mountain sheep (Argali), summarized the results of snow leopard surveys in the Altai Republic in 2023, and discussed the possibilities of transboundary cooperation between Russia and Mongolia in the field of conservation and study of the snow leopard. Among the primary tasks identified by the experts was the development of a conservation strategy plan for the Altai mountain sheep.
The experts have reviewed the plan, and the PAs and specialists are now tasked with elaborating it in detail so that the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia can consider all recommendations. Once approved, all PAs will adhere to this plan.
The issue of conserving the snow leopard in the Russian and Mongolian territories was the primary subject of the experts' field meeting.
The issue of conserving the snow leopard in the Russian and Mongolian territories was the primary subject of the experts' field meeting.
Among the methods of monitoring cross—border groups that have been effectively used for many years are the International Snow leopard Monitoring System (SLIMS) (Jackson and Hunter, 1996); route tracking during the snowy period (Matyushkin and Koshkarev, 1999) population accounting using automatic surveillance cameras (Jackson, 2005), satellite tracking, molecular genetic identification, and surveys of the local population.
The conservation of the northernmost subspecies of the snow leopard will be facilitated by the activities of the Snow Leopard Biological Diversity Conservation Center being established in the Altai Republic. According to Amirkhan Magomedovich Amirkhanov, adviser to the head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources, head of the expert section, the creation of such centers for rare animals is justified. The center, created according to world-class standards, and its work based on academic science, will preserve the genome of the northernmost subspecies of the snow leopard.
Summing up the results of an off-site meeting of the snow leopard conservation expert section, Denis Malikov, Director of Sailugemsky National Park, highlighted the main threats to the conservation and restoration of the snow leopard population in the Altai Mountains. First of all, this is the looping fishing of musk deer and wolves, in which leopards randomly fall into loops designed for other species. And there is also an insufficient area of specially protected natural territories at the federal level in the habitats of the snow leopard.
The conservation of the northernmost subspecies of the snow leopard will be facilitated by the activities of the Snow Leopard Biological Diversity Conservation Center being established in the Altai Republic. According to Amirkhan Magomedovich Amirkhanov, adviser to the head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources, head of the expert section, the creation of such centers for rare animals is justified. The center, created according to world-class standards, and its work based on academic science, will preserve the genome of the northernmost subspecies of the snow leopard.
Summing up the results of an off-site meeting of the snow leopard conservation expert section, Denis Malikov, Director of Sailugemsky National Park, highlighted the main threats to the conservation and restoration of the snow leopard population in the Altai Mountains. First of all, this is the looping fishing of musk deer and wolves, in which leopards randomly fall into loops designed for other species. And there is also an insufficient area of specially protected natural territories at the federal level in the habitats of the snow leopard.
The snow leopard population in the Altai Republic is slowly recovering. The key to the conservation of the snow leopard in Altai today is the systematic protection of habitats. In 2023, National park specialists identified 39 snow leopards using camera traps, with a total of 143 automatic surveillance cameras installed in the park.
The expansion of specially protected natural areas in snow leopard habitats and the permanent presence of park staff in snow leopard habitats is the most effective way to preserve rare species.
As for the snow leopard conservation centers, we are concerned about this point: it is impossible to remove animals from the wild in the Altai Republic. Their number in Russia is too small: from 70 to 90 individuals. In Mongolia, it is an order of magnitude higher. If the Mongolian colleagues support, and the leopards are captured in Mongolia, then this will be the best option for the development of snow leopard conservation centers.
There are other possibilities in this regard, including Dr. Munhtsog’s proposal: artificial insemination of animals using zoo reserves.
In order to preserve and sustainably increase the snow leopard population in Russia in the near future, it is necessary to introduce a restriction on the turnover (up to a complete ban) of musk deer derivatives on the territory of Russia, as well as a complete ban on the use of loops, as permitted the legislation implements the extraction of wild animals. These proposals will be sent to the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation.
The expansion of specially protected natural areas in snow leopard habitats and the permanent presence of park staff in snow leopard habitats is the most effective way to preserve rare species.
As for the snow leopard conservation centers, we are concerned about this point: it is impossible to remove animals from the wild in the Altai Republic. Their number in Russia is too small: from 70 to 90 individuals. In Mongolia, it is an order of magnitude higher. If the Mongolian colleagues support, and the leopards are captured in Mongolia, then this will be the best option for the development of snow leopard conservation centers.
There are other possibilities in this regard, including Dr. Munhtsog’s proposal: artificial insemination of animals using zoo reserves.
In order to preserve and sustainably increase the snow leopard population in Russia in the near future, it is necessary to introduce a restriction on the turnover (up to a complete ban) of musk deer derivatives on the territory of Russia, as well as a complete ban on the use of loops, as permitted the legislation implements the extraction of wild animals. These proposals will be sent to the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation.
© The Interregional Association “Center for the Study and Conservation of the Snow Leopard ”Irbis”, 2021 — 2025
Musk deer
Saker falcon
Pallas’s cat
