Snow Leopards

What?

The Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia) is the rarest animal in the Himalayas.  They are the largest cats native to the mountainous regions of Central Asia.  Often referred to as “Mountain Ghosts,” these cats are rarely seen in the wild and thus very little is known about their habits and behavior.

When?

This year’s study will take place June 29th thru August 8th, 2009.  At the peak of the Summer season, researchers will get their best opportunity to observe both leopard and food species.  

Why?

According to the International Snow Leopard Trust (ISLT), the estimated number of snow leopards in the wild worldwide is between 3,500 and 7,000.  As the climate gets warmer, these changes effect the higher-elevation ecosystems in as-of-yet unknown ways.  Little is known about the status and distribution of snow leopards in this region, its reliance on prey such as the argali and Altai ibex, and its reliance on smaller prey animals like marmots, ground squirrels and game birds. This annual project provides vital data on these issues which can then be used to formulate management and protection plans.  Data provided was instrumental in the creation Saylugem, a new nature reserve in the Altai Republic in December 2007.   It is inside Saylugem that the annual study now takes place.

Where?

The Altai Republic is a tiny nation at the heart of central Asia, bordered by China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Russia and the Tuva Republic.  Here lie the Altai Mountains, one of the most remote and pristine parts of the World.  These mountains were added to the list of natural World Heritage Sites in 1998 as an area of outstanding biodiversity of global importance, and many endangered animals call these mountains “home.”  The Altai Republic is one of the poorest regions of the former Soviet Union and the region now faces increased pressures of exploitation of natural resources.