A camera recently installed in the Sayano-Shushensky Biosphere Reserve has captured an image of a new snow leopard. The photo features a male ounce that was never before seen in the area. Like most mammals, male snow leopards expand their own territory several times in the mating season, which lasts from March to May. This is also the period when winter tracking studies and research are held under the Southern Siberia Wild Cats project. The project is implemented by the Sayano-Shushensky Biosphere Reserve, the Khakassky Nature Reserve, and the Pozarym federal wildlife reserve, with the support of the Russian Geographical Society. As part of the project, winter assessments of the snow leopard population are held. Conservation measures are also conducted, as are operative group raids to protect animal habitats. New photo and video recorder data are routinely processed, while new cameras are installed in February and March during project expeditions.

The snow leopard population permanently residing in the Sayano-Shushensky Biosphere Reserve has eight to nine animals. They are identified and recorded through the use of automatic cameras. Each animal has a personal passport and ID features.

The reserve presently hosts Russia’s largest protected ounce population. According to the 2010 data, its age and gender structure is as follows – 33% females, 33% males, and 33% cubs. However, as the cubs have grown, the balance has tipped in favour of the males. The number of wild cats in the reserve has increased in the mating season to about 15 animals. New photos confirm the presence of previously unknown cats in the territory.