The team of the Irbis Association took part in a strategic meeting of experts and stakeholders focused on measures to conserve big cats. The event was held within the framework of the ESCAP Subregional Program on Environmental Cooperation in Northeast Asia (NEASPEC) and was supported by Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources. It took place at the Land of the Leopard National Park — a key site for conserving the planet’s rare predators.
Daria Petrova, Director of the Irbis Association, delivered a report on the current state and monitoring results of the snow leopard population in the Russian Federation. She also spoke about other projects and partnerships of the Association aimed at studying and conserving the snow leopard.

The meeting brought together representatives from relevant scientific, conservation, and governmental organizations across the region, including: the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources, the Interregional Irbis Association, FGBU Land of the Leopard, ANO Amur Tiger Centre, Khingan Nature Reserve, Ubsunur Basin Nature Reserve, Pacific Geographical Institute of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Government of Khabarovsk Krai, Cat Research Centre of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, Chinese conservation organization Eco-Bridge Continental, Irbis Mongolia Centre, Institute of Biology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea.
The event concluded on a heartwarming note: after the official part, participants watched the Irbis Association’s film Master of the Altai Mountains. The documentary, dedicated to the mysterious predator and one of the most remote snow leopard habitats in Russia, resonated strongly with colleagues from various countries.
The Irbis Association expresses sincere gratitude to the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and NEASPEC for inviting it to take part in such a significant dialogue. Special thanks go to our colleagues from the Land of the Leopard National Park for their warm welcome and flawless organization of the event.
Only by joining forces at the interstate level can we preserve magnificent big cats — the snow leopard, Amur tiger, and Far Eastern leopard — for future generations.