Following a summer expedition involving representatives of the Khakassia Branch of the Russian Geographical Society, researchers obtained new footage about the life of the protected group of snow leopards. Motion-sensor cameras again captured a female with cubs born in 2022.

The camera recorded a cub, on the lookout for its mother, suddenly attack her near a marking spot. The mom plays along with this simple game.

“The cubs are almost the same size as their mother. They show interest in marking spots, stop near them and sniff for a long time. The cubs are very active and often play with each other, honing their predator skills. Camera traps recorded them several times immediately after eating with bedaubed muzzles. The cubs and their mother have been sighted in a larger area than before. They travelled further in the second half of spring. The cubs are growing up and exploring the territory under the guidance of their mother,” Roman Afanasyev, head of the reserve’s research department, said about the video.

The young snow leopards still have a strong attachment to their mother, but soon they will have to leave her. Now the cubs are about 12 months old, and they will begin an independent life at about 1.5 years.