International Snow Leopard Day takes place on 23 October. The Global Snow Leopard Forum decided to launch the annual Snow Leopard Day in Bishkek in October 2013.

The snow leopard is included in the Red List of endangered species. Its rare colour and valuable fur have long made it an attractive prey for poachers. In addition, the expanding pastures in the mountainous regions of Central Asia are reducing the natural habitat of the rare predator.

To discuss the decline in the number of snow leopards, the Kyrgyz capital hosted the Global Snow Leopard Forum in October 2013. It brought together representatives of the 12 countries where this rare wild cat lives. On 23 October 2013, the programme to preserve the snow leopard was adopted and International Snow Leopard Day was established.

Research and educational institutions celebrate International Snow Leopard Day by holding photo shows, seminars and screenings of documentaries dedicated to the snow leopard.

In Russia, International Snow Leopard Day is marked in Altai, Tyva, in the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, and in the Sayano-Shushensky Biosphere Reserve. This year, the employees of the nature reserve’s environment and educational department are arranging an event for the children from the Shushensky children’s home and members of the Muravei school forest division.