Scientists have met near Lake Itkul in Khakassia, southern Siberia, to discuss strategies for studying and protecting rare and endangered large mammals. The event was supported by the Khakassian Government, the Russian Geographical Society and the Khakassian and Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserves.

The meeting was attended by scientists from Moscow, Novosibirsk, Vladivostok, Irkutsk, Sochi, Voronezh, Abakan, Mezhdurechensk and Norilsk. They exchanged practice in preserving rare animals in different Russian regions and told their young colleagues about the current situation in protected areas. Training seminars were also held for using modern equipment to observe animals in their natural habitat.

The following areas were addressed:

• The history and modern methods of studying rare animals (trail cameras, immobilisation, satellite tagging, molecular-genetic identification and other methods);
• The current populations and preservation of rare felines, including the Amur leopard, the snow leopard, the manul, the Amur tiger and the Amur leopard cat;
• The current population and preservation of rare hoofed animals;
• The current population and the study and preservation of the polar bear.