Mongol the snow leopard

Mongol the snow leopard

Mongol the snow leopard

The word used in Russian for snow leopard, irbis, entered the language in the 17th century through Russian fur traders, who first learnt it from Turkic hunters

The habitat range of the snow leopard spans across parts of 13 countries

In the Russian Empire, the snow leopard was ruthlessly hunted for its fur

In the Red Book of the USSR, its first edition published in 1978, the snow leopard was classified as 3rd-category, meaning a rare species with a limited habitat

The most densely populated protected snow leopard habitat in Russia is currently the Sayano-Shushensky State Nature Reserve

Due to the snow leopard’s remote habitat and sparse population, there has been limited research into critical aspects of the animal’s life

In the 2001 release of the Red Book of Russia (Animals), the species was uplisted to the 1st category, which means it faces a risk of extinction

Тhe Snow Leopard Programme research initiative aims to give efforts to preserve the rare species a firm basis in science

Snow leopard Mongol returns home

Snow leopard Mongol returns home

Snow leopard Mongol returns home

Snow leopard Mongol returns home

Launched in 2010, the Siberian Snow Leopard programme is to be implemented within five years’ time

The main objective of the programme is to assess the status of the snow leopard population across its entire habitat range in Russia and develop a scientific framework to ensure its long-term preservation in southern Siberia

One of the project’s primary tasks is to raise awareness about snow leopard conservation efforts among communities in southern Siberia

The Russian Geographical Society’s Khakassia branch provides assistance to researchers working in the nature preserves Khakassky and Pozarym

Over the last six months, researchers have installed more than a hundred camera traps, which are equipped with motion sensors, so they take a picture of any object that crosses their path

Camera traps will be used to count the population of snow leopards and their prey as well as to trace the migratory patterns of both

Snow leopards will also be surveyed with the help of satellite tracking collars

The help of satellite tracking collars will enable researchers to learn more about the migration of leopards and their relations within home ranges

The snow leopard programme involves an analysis of the habitat range and the seasonal migration patterns of the leopard population

The researchers intend to coordinate their biological research and population count with fellow scientists involved in snow leopard research in neighbouring countries, notably Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan

The snow leopard, or ounce (Uncia uncia), is the only species of the genus Uncia

An adult snow leopard can grow up to 120-125 cm in length and weigh up to 45 kg

These big brownish-grey cats with large dark-brown rosettes differ from leopards proper (Panthera pardus) by the colour and rich texture of their fur

Snow leopards are found in the mountains of Central Asian (Himalayas) and southern Siberia at middle to high altitudes

Less fertile than the other felids, female snow leopards do not give birth every year

Every snow leopard has its own territory

Snow leopards mark the territory in a variety of ways, and they make regular rounds of their hunting grounds, always moving along the same paths

The snow leopard is at the top of the food pyramid, with rival predators offering little to no competition

The snow leopard can kill prey three times its own weight

Mountain goats and rams, roe deer, wild boar, marmots, hares and snowcocks make up the greater part of their diet, complemented by grass and leaves in summertime

Russia is home to the northernmost snow leopard population

Snow leopard at the Moscow Zoo

Snow leopard at the Moscow Zoo

Snow leopard at the Moscow Zoo

Snow leopard at the Moscow Zoo

Snow leopard at the Moscow Zoo

Snow leopard at the Moscow Zoo

Snow leopard at the Moscow Zoo

Snow leopard at the Moscow Zoo

Snow leopard at the Moscow Zoo

Snow leopard at the Moscow Zoo

Snow leopard at the Moscow Zoo

Snow leopard at the Moscow Zoo