A working group set up to implement the snow leopard conservation strategy in Russia has held its first meeting at the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The group reviewed the intermediate results of the studies conducted within the framework of the snow leopard research and monitoring programme in Southern Siberia, sponsored by the Russian Geographical Society.

Researchers studied the structure of the snow leopard habitat, constructed 3D models of areas the animal could potentially inhabit and conducted DNA and veterinary tests using a wide range of laboratory tools and various field methods of data collection, including camera trails, collecting biomaterials and capturing and fitting the animals with GPS-collars as part of the programme.