Mars, incorporated in Russia, and the "Irbis" Association have agreed to cooperate on the protection, study, conservation, and augmentation of the Pallas’s cat population in Russia. The parties signed a corresponding agreement at the Eastern Economic Forum. The project’s first stage involves creating a network of camera traps in the Pallas’s cat habitats. This will help assess the animal’s population size and lay the groundwork for subsequent research.

The Pallas’s cat is a wild cat found in Russia in the mountains and steppes of Altai, Tyva, Buryatia, and the Trans-Baikal region. They typically inhabit areas used for livestock farming and hunting. Consequently, incidents where herding dogs chase and injure Pallas’s cats are not uncommon. Furthermore, they are sometimes specifically hunted for their fur or for consumption. Pallas’s cats also fall victim to snares and traps set for other animals, like marmots or hares, or perish from poisoning during rodent control programmes. The conversion of steppes into arable land also renders them unsuitable for the Pallas’s cat and deprives them of their prey base. Pallas’s cats are on the brink of extinction in many countries worldwide and are listed in the Russian Red Data Book.

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Many people adore the charismatic Pallas’s cat, Timofey, the symbol of the Moscow Zoo. But few know that its relatives in the wild are constantly facing various dangers and are on the verge of extinction. To understand how these threats impact the Pallas’s cat population, it is essential, first and foremost, to establish continuous monitoring of the species in its key habitats. Since the Pallas’s cat is not classified as a game animal, the last sporadic population counts were conducted over a decade ago. Our Association has a successful track record in conserving and increasing the populations of the snow leopard (irbis) and the Altai argali. Therefore, aiding the Pallas’s cat is a logical next step in our ongoing work to protect rare animal species. And we are grateful to Mars for partnering with us to work on preserving the Pallas’s cat population

Daria Petrova, Director of the "Irbis" Association.

Mars, Incorporated is a family-owned company with over a century of history in creating diverse products and services for people and their pets. Mars produces well-known brands, including Pedigree®, Whiskas®, Royal Canin®, M&M's®, Snickers®, Twix®, Milky Way®, Dove®, Orbit®, and Skittles®. In Russia, LLC "Mars" is one of the largest manufacturers in the pet care and food sectors. The company employs nearly 6,000 people and operates 10 factories across various regions.
The Interregional Association "Irbis" was established in 2021 with the goal of protecting rare animal species. The Association supports scientific research, anti-poaching efforts, environmental education, and major awareness-raising and international projects.