The grouping of snow leopards in the Sayano-Shushensky Reserve is gradually increasing

The number of snow leopards in the Sayano-Shushensky Reserve has increased from one to nine individuals in five years. This became known during a round table dedicated to the snow leopard as part of the Russia-Islamic World forum in Kazan, the Association of Reserves and National Parks of the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion reported on its website.

Elena Shikalova, Deputy Head of the Joint Directorate of the Sayano-Shushensky Reserve and the Shushensky Bor National Park, spoke at the event and spoke about the implementation of the program "Snow Leopard - a Living Symbol of the Western Sayan", aimed at restoring the number of snow leopards in the Sayano-Shushensky Reserve.

“5 years ago, the grouping of the snow leopard in the Sayano-Shushensky Reserve was practically lost - by 2018, the number had dropped to one individual. To restore the population, two snow leopards brought from Tajikistan were released into the reserve. The snow leopards successfully got used to the new conditions, determined the boundaries of individual areas, systematically recorded with camera traps,” the association said in a statement.

In October 2020, the female gave birth to two kittens, which, having matured, moved away from their mother and began an independent life. In 2022, the translocated female again brought offspring - three kittens.

“Currently, 9 snow leopards live on the territory of the Sayano-Shushensky Reserve,” the report says.

According to experts, the increase in the number was not only due to the birth of kittens - since the release of the female, three new males have appeared on the territory of the reserve, who came from the adjacent territories and are consistently registered on the reserved land.

“In less than five years of restoration work, the snow leopard group has increased by 8 individuals, which indicates success and confirms the effectiveness of the translocation method for restoring snow leopard groups,” the report says.