On March 16, the second stage of winter registration of snow leopards in the Ubsunur Basin Nature Reserve was completed as part of the Annual All-Russian Accounting with the support of the Interregional Association "Irbis" and the coordination of the Sailugemsky National Park. The expedition members worked in the remote cluster areas of the Mongun Taiga and Khan Dare Nature Reserves, the Chikhachev and Tsagan-Shibetu ranges, as well as the Sangilen Highlands.

At one of the sites, a bag with 2 kittens was found (now 5 females have been recorded in the reserve), which separated and began to lead a lifestyle independent of their mother. Presumably, the female could participate in the race this year, so new kittens can be expected very soon.

“

The expedition took place in difficult weather conditions, but despite this, all 15 routes were completed. Moreover, the weather also affected the camera traps. For example, 32 camera traps provided by the Interregional Association "Irbis" are installed on the territory of one of the clusters — "Mongun-Taiga". As part of the accounting, it was possible to check half of them, since some of them are under a large layer of snow, and the other is missing. Nevertheless, in the warmer months, it is planned to check the remaining snow leopards in the Republic of Tyva. Camera traps are expected to be born this summer, the analysis of which will provide more accurate information about the number of snow leopards in this area of the reserve.

Balban-ool Diinmey Kaadir-oolovich Balban-ool, the Director of the Reserve.

During the work, the reserve team encountered severe frosts, snowstorms and deep snow cover, sometimes reaching 1.5−2 meters.

Unfortunately, when processing images from camera traps, the oldest snow leopard named Horgo was not found. The last time he was captured was by a camera trap in the Mongun Taiga. According to the state inspectors of the reserve, it could have been fed by local cattle ranchers, driving a flock of sheep closer to the snow leopard. Thus, they simplified hunting and obtaining food for Animals. However, despite the fact that no traces of Horgai have been found and he does not fall into camera traps, the forwarders will once again examine the places where he was last seen.

In addition, another interesting case was recorded in the "Ubsunur basin". A few years ago, camera traps caught a sleeping snow leopard, which slept for an hour, curled up in a ball.

Before that, their nightlife was unknown.

It is important to note that the Interregional Association "Irbis" at the end of last year supported the reserve "Ubsunurskaya Hollow" by handing over 30 camera traps, which will be installed throughout the reserve in the future.

In Russia, the snow leopard, or snow leopard, lives in the Altai-Sayan mountain country, the cradle of civilization on the Eurasian continent. If the snow leopard disappears, the entire ecosystem will be at risk.

The number of snow leopards in Russia is no more than 75 individuals, half of which live in the Altai Republic.