From February 4-24, 2012 an expedition conducted the winter stage of the study of rare animals, primarily the show leopard, in the Khakassky and Pozarym nature reserves. Its main goal was to collect information on their habitat and numbers, and assess the current condition of their population. The researchers examined the territory following the same routes, registered all species they had studied and compiled a species inventory list.

The researchers also checked the technical condition of the photo traps and installed new ones in places that are likely to be visited by snow leopards and the Siberian wild mountain goats that are their main prey. They visually counted the local population of wild goats and laid additional (project) routes for the further study of snow leopards. The photo traps registered animals of different ages, which points to a stable population in that part of Siberia.

They continued these studies in the summer of 2012.