Between October and December 2011, regular raids by the reserves' control brigades were conducted in the main habitat of snow leopards. New equipment was used in the raids. Inspectors took down 250 rope traps, and arrested four poachers, two of whom were preparing to set rope traps. Two criminal cases have been opened.

Experts believe that poaching remains the main threat to snow leopards in Russia. But poaching snow leopards in order to sell the rare animal's skin and other products is not the only threat. Snow leopards can also get caught in rope traps set to catch other animals, such as musk deer, lynx, and wolves.

Environmentalists say that hundreds of rope traps were set on trails used by snow leopards in the valley of the Argut River and on the Tsagan-Shibetu Mountain Ridge in the Altai Republic and Tyva, and at the Sayano-Shushensky Reserve. The rope traps hinder the spread and growth of the population. Several snow leopards are killed by rope traps in the Altai-Sayan Region each year.