Powerful and hardy, snow leopards, also called snow leopards, live quietly where most other felines cannot survive. Nature has endowed them with thick fur that reliably protects them from frost, sharp teeth, powerful paws and developed intelligence, so wildlife This predator has almost no enemies, with the possible exception of people.

Facts about snow leopards

• These big cats are still poorly studied because they live mainly in hard-to-reach areas.
• The weight of an adult snow leopard can reach 55 kg, and the length of the body including the tail exceeds 2 meters.
• Unlike Amur tiger, the spots on the skin of the snow leopard are not continuous, but rather ring-shaped ().
• Snow leopards are facing extinction, despite the fact that hunting them is strictly prohibited. According to various estimates, there are from 3 to 7 thousand snow leopards left all over the world. They are included in both the Russian and international Red Books.
• Judging by archaeological finds, snow leopards lived on Earth 1.2-1.4 thousand years ago. Their fossilized remains found in Pakistan date back to this age.
• Snow leopards can purr like regular domestic cats. But, on the contrary, they do not know how to growl.
• Raised from childhood, snow leopard kittens quickly get used to humans and become tame.
• The snow leopard rarely hunts mice and hares, preferring larger prey. Often his victims are larger than him.
• Leopards are often called leopards, so because of their external similarity, snow leopards began to be called snow leopards ().
• For shelter from bad weather, snow leopards usually make dens in caves and rock crevices.
• The long and thick tail of the snow leopard serves as a steering wheel and counterweight, helping to maintain balance while jumping.
• Male snow leopards are usually a third larger than females.
• Thanks to their wide paws, snow leopards can calmly walk even on loose snow without falling into it.
• Females nursing kittens wrap them in their bushy tail to protect from the cold.
• Snow leopards can take a running jump of 6-8 meters.
• Snow leopards prefer to live in the mountains, at an altitude of several kilometers. So, in the Himalayas they are sometimes found at an altitude of 5-5.5 km, and this is the height of the peak Russian Elbrus, And Atmosphere pressure here is twice as low as at sea level ().
• The hard tubercles that dot the surface of snow leopards' tongues help them easily separate meat from bones.

• The females of these big cats They bear offspring once every 2 years, usually giving birth to 2-3 kittens. They spend the first two years of their life with their mother and then leave.
• Snow leopards are the only cats on the planet that live so high in the mountains.
• Extremely acute vision allows them to see white prey on white snow from a distance of several kilometers.
• From a biological point of view, the snow leopard's closest relative is the tiger ().
• In captivity, snow leopards live 20 years, and in the wild - 11-12. The officially registered longevity record is 28 years.
• Snow leopards never attack people. Why is unknown, although, of course, it is for the better.
• They are predominantly nocturnal, preferring to sleep in a safe shelter during the day.
• October 23 is considered International Snow Leopard Day.
• Unlike most other felines, snow leopards have round, rather than vertical, pupils.
• Despite the fact that each male snow leopard has “his own” territory, he will not show aggression if he meets another male on it.
• The snow leopard's paw pads are covered with fur, like those of a lynx. This also helps him not to fall into the snow ().
• The length of the snow leopard's tail is comparable to the length of its entire body.
• Among all land predators, the snow leopard is the most secretive, and that is why it is so poorly studied.
• Snow leopards spend their entire lives alone, and males meet females only during a short mating season. The male does not take part in the fate of the offspring, placing all responsibility on the female.
• The word “irbis” translated from one of the Turkic languages ​​means “snow cat”.
• Snow leopards are no strangers to fun. Researchers have observed them skiing down snow-covered slopes while lying on their backs, and then repeating this activity without any purpose, just for fun.

« Snow Leopard Russia" - a new honorary title in Russian mountaineering

source: PAR

In order to become the owner of an honorary title, you must visit 10 famous Russian peaks.

The idea of ​​a new honorary title was proposed last year by Alexey Slotyuk, president of the Moscow FAiS.After several months of discussion, the FAR Board approved the Regulations on the rank and the design of the badge.

In order to become the “Snow Leopard of Russia” you need to visit 10 Russian peaks: Elbrus, Dykhtau, Koshtan-Tau, Mizhirgi, Pushkin Peak, Dzhangitau, Shkhara, Kazbek, Klyuchevskaya Sopka and Belukha.

The signs themselves will be made of silver and have a serial number. Solemn celebration of the first " Snow leopards Russia" is scheduled to be held in December at the annual December conference of the FAR.

Start new program“Snow Leopard of Russia” was commented by its initiator - President of the Moscow FAiS Alexey Slotyuk:

- Why did this idea arise and what is its meaning?

People go to the mountains and many of them do not do it for the sake of sports titles and participation in competitions, but for other reasons of their own. And many of those who go to the mountains and climb to the peaks for pleasure set high goals for themselves, for example, to climb the highest peaks of all continents.
There are many interesting and beautiful mountains in our country. Climbing routes to some mountains, such as Kazbek or Klyuchevskaya Sopka, are relatively simple. On others, such as Pushkin Peak or Mizhirgi, these routes are difficult.
We considered that the idea of ​​climbing 10 Russian peaks, 8 of which are above 5 thousand meters, would be of interest to both Russian and foreign climbers.

Well, it's not like that simple program it turns out. Climbing Elbrus and climbing the Bezengi five-thousanders are completely different in difficulty?

- So it’s an honorary title. And honor must be earned. A climber who climbs all these 10 peaks, in our opinion, will deservedly bear this honorary title.

- How will people confirm their ascents? What documents are needed for this?

We tried to make the review procedure as liberal as possible so that anyone could take part in this program. The Federation will consider any documents confirming the ascents. We have enough experts and connections in the climbing world to verify the authenticity of the papers if necessary.

Will there be any confusion between the holders of the title “Conqueror” highest peaks USSR", which was also associated with the title "Snow Leopard" and the holders of the new title?

- We discussed this situation in the process of preparing documents and we repeatedly consulted with mountaineering veterans.
The title “Snow Leopard of Russia” is a new official honorary title established in domestic mountaineering for climbing Russian peaks.
The Euro-Asian Mountaineering Association is currently awarding the title “Conqueror of the Highest Peaks of the USSR”. And this is now an international title, the holders of which undoubtedly deserve great respect for climbing Asian seven-thousanders.
I hope that our new title will take root and become as respected and famous as “Conqueror of the Highest Peaks of the USSR.”

- Is there already preliminary information about the first potential “Snow Leopards of Russia”?

- We don’t have such information yet, but I hope that after this news becomes known to the general public, there will be such lucky people. And those who have 1-2 mountains left to complete have the whole summer ahead.

- What steps are planned for the further development of this program?

In the near future, we will produce posters and brochures with information about the program, which will be sent to the relevant regions of the Caucasus, Altai and Kamchatka.

In the future, for the convenience of climbers, a special certificate will be produced where they can enter information about their ascents. And for connoisseurs, badges will be made for climbing each of the 10 peaks.

The sign "Snow Leopard of Russia" will be made of silver. The layout of the sign on a scale of 1:1 and 1:3 is shown in the figure (the author of the sign sketch is Irina Morozova):

Approved by decision
Board of the Russian Mountaineering Federation
Ave. No. 15 dated 02/06/2010

POSITION
on the honorary title of the Russian Mountaineering Federation
"Snow Leopard of Russia"

1. The title “Snow Leopard of Russia” is awarded to a person who has fulfilled the standard with the presentation of a certificate and license plate.

2. Documents confirming compliance with the standard are submitted to the Russian Mountaineering Federation. The decision to award the title “Snow Leopard of Russia” is made by the FAR Board and documented in the appropriate Protocol.
The document with a record of the ascent must be certified by the signature of the FAR mountaineering instructor indicating the number of his certificate or by another person responsible for organizing the ascent.

3. The FAR keeps records of the awarded titles “Snow Leopard of Russia”. Mountaineering Federation

Russia can entrust regional federation prepare documents for awarding the title “Snow Leopard of Russia” and record the assigned titles.

4. The standard for conferring the title “Snow Leopard of Russia” is to completeclimbing ten peaks located on the territory Russian Federation:

Elbrus (5642 meters)

Dykhtau (5204 meters)

Koshtan-Tau (5151 meters)

Mizhirgi (5025 meters)

Pushkin Peak (5100 meters)

Dzhangitau (5085 meters)

Shkhara (5068 meters)

Kazbek (5034 meters)

Klyuchevskaya Sopka (4688 meters)

Belukha (4506 meters)

5. Decisions on issues not specified in these Regulations are made by the Board of the FAR.

Belukha

Dzhangi-tau

Dykhtau

Elbrus

Kazbek

Koshtan-tau

Klyuchevskaya Sopka

Pushkin Peak

Conservation of snow leopard (irbis) and Altai mountain sheep (argali) populations in the Altai-Sayan ecoregion are the most important tasks for WWF. Both species are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation as endangered. The population status of these species reflects the overall “health” of the ecosystem, so they can be called indicator species.

The snow leopard is a mysterious predator of Asia. Threats and solutions.

The snow leopard (irbis), a mysterious and enigmatic animal, still remains one of the most poorly studied cat species in the whole world. Very little is known about the biology and ecology of this rare predator, and its number within the current range is determined very tentatively. For many Asian peoples, this animal is a symbol of strength, nobility and power; Asian folklore is full of stories and legends about this elusive predator. Few people manage to see a snow leopard in the wild; much more often you can find traces of its vital activity - scratches, predator scratches in the trees, fur, excrement, urinary tracts on stones.

The snow leopard is listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and has the status of a rare or endangered species in all 12 countries where it lives: Russia, Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Bhutan.

According to WWF experts, in the Russian part of the Altai-Sayan ecoregion there are about 70-90 snow leopards, while there are no more than 4,000 individuals of the rare predator on the planet.

© Flickr.com / Linda Stanley

Camera traps in Tuva captured a charismatic predator © Alexander Kuksin

Journalists are rarely taken to these places. Even trained people find it difficult to walk on the “land of the snow leopard” © M. Paltsyn

Snow leopard track in the Argut River valley, Altai Mountains, March 2012 © Sergey Spitsyn

Festival “Land of the Snow Leopard” in Tuva © T. Ivanitskaya

What is WWF doing to save the snow leopard?

Back in 2002, WWF Russia experts prepared a document approved by the Ministry natural resources Russian Federation. The document was developed taking into account the very limited experience of studying and protecting the species in Russia. The number of snow leopards in Russia, according to the Strategy, was estimated by WWF experts at 150-200 individuals, however, as shown by further studies in snow leopard habitats in 2003-2011. , the real number of the species in Russia is at least two times lower and is unlikely to exceed 70-90 individuals. An updated version of the Strategy, taking into account work experience and new realities, was approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation in 2014.

In Russia, the snow leopard lives at the northern limit of its modern range and forms only a few stable groups in optimal habitats - the mountains of the Altai-Sayan ecoregion. The number of snow leopards in Russia is only 1-2% of the world number of the species. The survival of the snow leopard in our country largely depends on the conservation of spatial and genetic connections its Russian groups with the main population core of the species in Western Mongolia and, possibly, in Northwestern China.

In 2010, WWF moved to a new level of work and, in collaboration with numerous partners, began monitoring snow leopard populations using modern methods research: photo and video traps. This method made it possible to clarify the boundaries of the habitat of the groups and the abundance of the species. Disappointing conclusions were obtained from a study of the snow leopard group in the Argut River valley in the Altai Republic, previously considered the largest in Russia. Camera traps recorded only lynx, despite the fact that the conditions for the existence of snow leopards on Argut are ideal: high mountains, rocky gorges, the presence of the largest group of Siberian mountain goats in Russia, 3200-3500 individuals - the main food of the snow leopard in the Altai-Sayans. Surveys of local residents revealed the fact of the almost complete destruction of the snow leopard group on Argut in the 70-90s of the twentieth century, when the snow leopard fishery flourished in the mountains. WWF's task was to preserve the surviving remnants of the group and gradually restore its numbers.

One of WWF's priorities is supporting anti-poaching activities. In the same year, on the initiative of WWF, a German shepherd search dog, Eric, was trained to work in the Altai mountains in order to search and identify traces of snow leopard activity, becoming an assistant to specialists in the field.

In 2012, employees of the Altai biosphere reserve and WWF managed to obtain the first photographic evidence of the snow leopard’s habitat: cameras recorded a female and a male, named Vita and Kryuk. In addition to photomonitoring to record and study the elusive predator, in collaboration with scientists from the Institute of Ecology and Evolution. A. N. Severtsov RAS (IPEE RAS), scientists use the method of DNA analysis of collected traces of snow leopard activity (excrement, fur, etc.), SLIMS and other modern techniques...

In 2011, in Altai, in order to distract the local population from poaching, illegal collection of wild plants or logging in the region, the WWF and Citi Foundation Program was launched to improve the quality of life of local residents and create a sustainable income from types of business that are sustainable for nature. With the help of training seminars, exchange of experience and provision of microgrants and microloans for the local population, WWF and Citi set goals for the development of legal small businesses in the field of rural tourism and ecotourism in the habitats of the Altai mountain sheep and snow leopard, the production of souvenirs and felt products, and improving performance quality of livestock, etc.

In 2015, with the support of the Pernod Ricard Rouss company, WWF specialists first tested a method of involving former hunters in environmental projects. Having undergone special training and received cameras for snow leopard monitoring, residents receive a reward for the fact that the snow leopard continues to be recorded by camera traps and remains alive and well. Already six people, including hunters from families of hereditary “leopard hunters”, have been trained in working with cameras and are participating in WWF raids, helping inspectors with information, forces and participating in expeditions.

The snow leopard is a predator that does not respect state borders. The well-being of this species directly depends on the connection between Russian groups and snow leopard groups in neighboring Mongolia and China. Therefore, the development of transboundary environmental cooperation is priority task WWF in the region. Joint research, exchange of experience, scientific, environmental and educational activities with WWF Mongolia and colleagues from other environmental structures in Mongolia are carried out annually and quite effectively. Joint projects with colleagues from Kazakhstan include the creation of protected natural areas and support for joint environmental activities.

Camera trap in the Chibit tract

© Alexander Kuksin

© Sergey Istomov

Sergei Istomov records snow leopard tracks

Snow leopard on Tsagaan-Shibetu, Tuva © A. Kuksin

© Mikhail Paltsyn

© Alexander Kuksin

What remains of the owner of the mountains

What to do next

Today, the main threat to snow leopards in the region remains illegal fishing using wire snares. An inconspicuous noose is installed by a poacher on an animal path along which animals move, and, tightening as the animal moves, it becomes a death trap. Cheap snares are often abandoned by poachers, and they remain wary for many years, threatening the animals with death. According to WWF experts, there are only a few cases of targeted hunting of snow leopards in the region. More often, loops are installed on other species of animals, in particular, on musk deer, whose musk gland is an excellent and expensive trophy that is valued in the eastern market for medicines and potions. Poaching of musk deer is a big threat to the snow leopard.

In conditions of insufficiently effective equipment and a small number of employees of government agencies for the protection of wildlife, WWF provides logistical support for operational activities in the habitats of rare and endangered species. Special attention is devoted to the fight against snare fishing.

Work in the Republic of Tyva has its own characteristics. In the region with the highest livestock population in the Siberian Federal District, shepherds live in the highlands almost side by side with the snow leopard. The decline in the number of wild ungulates and climate change are the reasons that force the snow leopard to attack livestock, which is the source of life for pastoralists. Shooting or trapping of snow leopards by local residents in retaliation for attacks on livestock is a major threat to the predator in Tuva. To reduce conflict situations WWF is taking different steps. Thus, a scheme for paying compensation to shepherds for livestock lost as a result of a snow leopard attack was tested, and measures are being taken to instill a special attitude towards the rare predator among local residents. In 2010, a simple but effective measure to reinforce ventilation holes in covered cattle pens with chain-link mesh prevented snow leopard attacks on livestock and saved the lives of many predators.

Today, about 19% of key snow leopard habitats and 31% of argali habitats in Russia have the status of protected natural areas. WWF plans to expand the network of protected areas or improve the status, as well as the quality of protection, management and existing protected areas. The number of the group in the Argut River valley is growing - photos and video traps record the presence of females with kittens here, a new habitat of the snow leopard has been found on the Chikhachev Ridge. In 2015, for the first time, an online information system was developed for snow leopard specialists, which will collect all available information on every snow leopard encountered in Russia and Mongolia - from footage from automatic cameras to meeting places and the characteristics of each snow leopard.

International cooperation between Russia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan should develop, ensuring the conservation of animals that do not respect state borders.

WWF will continue to take an integrated approach and work in partnership with multiple partners. This will optimize resources and ensure the long-term conservation of these species in the Altai and Sayan Mountains.