On December 8, 2011, Vladimir Putin issued an executive order to establish the Pozarym federal nature reserve. The creation of the new reserve was the result of an expedition of the Russian Geographical Society, “In the Footsteps of the Snow Leopard.”

The new reserve is located in Khakassia’s Tashtyp District on the border with the Republic of Tyva. It has an area of over 253,000 hectares. The reserve links mountain taiga sections of the Khakassky state nature reserve with other nature conservation territories in the Altai Mountains and Sayan Mountains.

The Pozarym Reserve was created in order to maintain the population of snow leopard, Siberian ibex, reindeer, argali, and other rare and endangered species. Khakassky Reserve state inspectors will oversee the protection and use of the new reserve.