Russia to launch measures to protect the snow leopard

The Russian government will take the necessary measures to protect the snow leopard, as stated by Deputy Prime Minister Victoria Abramchenko.

During her working trip to the Altai Republic, she held a meeting on the conservation and protection of the habitat of the key cross-border group of snow leopards (snow leopard) for Russia.

The predator population in the world has decreased almost 2 times in recent decades and is about 2 thousand individuals. There are about 70-90 individuals in Russia, half of which live in the Altai Republic.

In addition, due to unregulated hunting and poaching, the population of the Siberian mountain goat and Altai sheep, which are the main food base of the snow leopard, has dropped.

Victoria Abramchenko supported the proposals for additional measures to protect nature in the Altai Republic and noted that discussions are currently underway to expand the boundaries of the Sailyugemsky National Park or create a new specially protected natural area of federal significance.

The Deputy Prime Minister also instructed the Ministry of Natural Resources together with the region to prepare an action plan to combat poaching and preserve rare animal species. The action plan must be approved by November of this year.

Victoria Abramchenko supported the request of the head of the region and instructed to exclude the issuance of licenses for the right to use mineral resources in the relevant territories.