In Sochi, the annual festival dedicated to the Persian leopard was held. The special guest was the Irbis Association, which presented an educational programme about another rare predator — the snow leopard. The event was organised by the Sochi National Park. During the festival day, representatives of the Association told the guests about the methods of monitoring the secretive mountain dweller, how camera traps help scientists capture rare footage of wildlife, and why the conservation of large cats is a com mon cause that requires joint efforts. On 15 July, a screening of the documentary research film "Хозяин Алтайских гор" ("The Master of the Altai Mountains") took place in the Riviera Park.

On 16 July, an additional screening was held as part of the Sport Marathon at Rosa Khutor. After each screening, the Association’s experts answered the audience’s questions about species conservation, filming techniques, and the challenging work of field teams. The Irbis Association expresses its g ratitude to the colleagues from the Sochi National Park for the warm welcome, the impeccable organisation of the festival, and the invitation to participate. It should be recalled that the conservation of the snow leopard (irbis), the Amur tiger, the Far Eastern leopard, and the Persian leopard is under special control in Russia. These species are included in the list of priority species within the framework of the national project "Ecological Well‑being". Each of them serves as an indicator of the health of its ecosystem: where large cats live, there is life in its full diversity.