During the annual count held on 9-19 February, camera traps recorded nine snow leopards ‒ two males, already known as Kurai and Kam, a female with a cub and a female with four cubs ‒ in Russia's Sailyugem National Park in the Altai-Sayan region (Altai, Tyva, Buryatia).

“This is the first time a female with so many cubs has been recorded in Altai,” said Alexei Kuzhlekov, a researcher at Sailyugem National Park. “We can say now that the most difficult period is over – the cubs are one year old.”

Earlier, a camera trap captured images of a female with three cubs – later named Sai, Luke and Gema – in Altai. Scientists believe that the snow leopard population in Sailyugem National Park is capable of reproducing itself.