Such results were achieved by the Interregional Association "Irbis" in partnership with the government, scientists, environmental organizations and volunteers. On June 8, the Association turned three years old. The Association was established in 2021 with the aim of preserving rare animal species. During this time, dozens of socially significant projects have been implemented aimed at preserving the snow leopard, Altai mountain sheep (argali), musk deer and other rare animal species.

Expeditions and raids are being conducted in Russia with the support of the Interregional Association "Irbis", and projects on environmental education and informing the local population are being implemented. The Association, together with the Board of Trustees of the Sailyugemsky National Park, is also engaged in restoring the habitat of the snow leopard on Argut, where 24 individuals now live, and at least 54 snow leopards out of 87 known in Russia live in the Altai Republic.

More than 300 environmental awareness campaigns have been conducted in the Altai Republic, and dozens of anti-poaching raids have been conducted in the habitats of the snow leopard and Altai mountain sheep. Work is also underway to restore the number of Saker falcons — in 2021−2023, 21 individuals were released into the wild, 7 birds were released into the wild in the Kosh-Agachsky district of the Altai Republic. According to the accounting data of 2022, the grouping of Altai mountain sheep in the territory of the Sailyugemsky National Park and adjacent areas reached the figure of 2,500 individuals. This is the greatest value for the entire period of monitoring in our country.

Special attention is paid to international cooperation. The Association supports international expeditions of Russian scientists to Mongolia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in order to share their experience. In 2022, the Irbis Association organized an expedition to share the experience of Altai nature conservationists from Sailugemsky National Park to Tajikistan, where about 300 individuals of the rare predator live. In 2024, with the financial and scientific support of the Irbis Association, the first All-Russian accounting of the number of snow leopards was conducted. Accounting is carried out with the coordination of Sailyugemsky National Park in the habitats of key groups of the species in order to track changes in the number of snow leopards and the effectiveness of environmental protection measures. The Association also signed a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Ecology of Tatarstan. Within the framework of the Agreement, various environmental and educational events are planned and are being held.

An important area of the Association’s activities is the financial support of nature organizations and the consolidation of efforts to protect snow leopards. So, starting in 2021, the Association has allocated funds to compensate local residents and shepherds to restore the number of livestock killed by snow leopard attacks. In addition, financial assistance was provided for the formation of a compensation herd in the Republic of Tuva. This year, the Ubsunur Basin Nature Reserve received a GAZ Vepr car as a gift from the Association, which will be used as part of expeditions to hard-to-reach habitats of snow leopards and other rare animals.

The Association’s contribution to the popularization of snow leopard protection activities should be noted separately. Among the implemented projects is an exhibition at the State Tretyakov Gallery "Snow Leopard. To see and save", a multimedia and interactive exhibition at the Moscow Zoo "Irbis. The Invisible Cat", a graffiti image of a snow leopard near the Barrikadnaya metro station in Moscow, as well as the organization of a tour of the children’s choreographic play "Guardians of the Mountain Peaks".

The snow leopard is an amazing animal that is one of the rarest representatives of the felidae family and is included in the Red Book all over the world. Nevertheless, the snow leopard population is under threat, and the disappearance of the snow leopard will lead to the deterioration of the entire ecosystem of several regions of the country at once. In this regard, the protection of the snow leopard in Russia is particularly relevant and requires an integrated approach in various directions.

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"The Association’s three-year anniversary has come in a key year in terms of achievements — this year we have implemented a number of important projects. Among them is the All-Russian accounting, which counted a record number of snow leopards in Russia — 87, a few years ago there were only 75. We have shot Russia’s first full-length documentary about the life of snow leopards. On June 13, it will be released in mass distribution throughout Russia and has already been awarded the highest award of the international environmental television festival "Save and Preserve". We have organized an interactive exhibition "Snow Leopard. The Invisible Cat, with the support of the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan, opened an aviary with snow leopards in the Moscow Zoo and are the official guardians of 4 snow leopards in Moscow. And this is just the beginning. We set ambitious goals for ourselves and believe that we will achieve them together."

– noted Chairman of the General Meeting of the Association "Irbis" Ali Uzdenov.