A book of photography on the snow leopard in Russia was unveiled during the Russian Geographical Society Festival. The Snow Leopard: Russia’s Living Symbol was compiled by a team of contributors that includes Gennady Kiselyov, Director of the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve; Viktor Nepomnyashchy, Head of the Khakassky Nature Reserve; Irina Sannikova, Chair of the Republic of Khakassia Branch of the Russian Geographical Society; Yulia Surman, Deputy Director for Environmental Education, Tourism and Recreation at the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve; Sergei Lineitsev, a zoologist at the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve; Timur Mukhamedin, a methodologist/instructor for tourism and recreation at the Department of Environmental Education, Tourism and Recreation; Viktor Bukov, a methodologist at the Department of Environmental Education; and Vera Shinka, an editor with the Platina Publishing House.

In addition to images from trail cameras, the book contains photos taken by employees of the reserve and scientists working in specially protected areas. It also contains information on snow leopard habitats in Russia, their behaviour, and the unique challenges of snow leopard research.

The book contains a quote on the snow leopard from Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Geographical Society: “This rare species is currently threatened with extinction, and it is very important that Russia now implements a programme to study and monitor the snow leopard population at the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve with the support of the Russian Geographical Society. I would like to thank all those who are engaged in the daily, painstaking work to save and conserve the snow leopard, who are sincerely committed to this common cause and who strive to make a contribution to saving our natural treasures.”

“A book of photos of the snow leopard in the wild presents readers with a unique opportunity to get to know this majestic mountain dweller,” Sergei Shoigu, President of the Russian Geographical Society, said. “Some of the images were taken in the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve, whose population of snow leopards is considered the best-studied in Russia, largely thanks to the support of the Russian Geographical Society.”