A field expedition is underway to study the snow leopard at the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve. Researchers continue to study snow leopard groups inhabiting the reserve. The expedition includes senior researcher Roman Afanasyev, assistant researcher Pavel Logachyov, and expert on wild cats and lead researcher at Sayano-Shushensky Nature ReserveViktor Lukarevsky. The scientists will study the snow leopard’s habitat, check and recharge camera traps, monitor animal movements using their snow tracks, and collect fecal samples for genetic analysis. Snow tracking reveals behaviour, diet and hunting techniques of snow leopards.

Due to the limited snow cover, Siberian mountain goats, deer and roe deer have been spending the winter high in the mountains, where they can find enough food. Snow leopards have followed the ungulates there. However, the tracks of the native male leopard Mongol and a female leopard with three cubs, which are already as big as their mother, were mainly noticed at the upper reaches of rivers flowing into the reservoir, while the leopard Ikhtiandr also spends time on the right bank territory of the reserve’s protected area. This led inspectors to adjust their routes through the reserve and bolster protective measures.

The conservation and study of the snow leopard is supported by the Russian Geographical Society, thanks to which the snow leopard group inhabiting Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve is now considered to be the most studied in Russia. Many techniques that were successfully tested in the reserve are applied by researchers in other specially protected natural areas.