Snow leopard of the Russian Federation. Where does the snow leopard live in Russia? Snow Leopard - Asia's Mysterious Predator

22.04.2020

Powerful and hardy snow leopards, also called snow leopards, live quietly where most other members of the cat family do not survive. Nature rewarded them with thick fur, which reliably protects against frost, sharp teeth, powerful paws and a developed intellect, therefore in the wild this predator has almost no enemies, except for humans.

Snow Leopard Facts

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 with the tail exceeds 2 meters.
Unlike the Amur tiger, the irbis has spots on the skin that are not continuous, but rather ring-shaped ().
Snow leopards are threatened with extinction, despite the fact that hunting for them is strictly prohibited. According to various estimates, from 3 to 7 thousand snow leopards remain all over the world. They are listed in both Russian and international Red Books.
Judging by archaeological finds, snow leopards inhabited the Earth already 1.2-1.4 thousand years ago. That is the age of their petrified remains found in Pakistan.
Snow leopards can purr like ordinary domestic cats. But growl, on the contrary, they do not know how.
The snow leopard kittens brought up from childhood quickly get used to the person and become tame.
Irbis rarely hunts mice and hares, preferring larger prey. Often his victims exceed his size.
Leopards are often called leopards, therefore, because of the external similarity of snow leopards, they began to call snow leopards ().
To shelter from the weather, snow leopards usually arrange dens in caves and clefts of rocks.
The long and thick tail of a snow leopard serves as a steering wheel and a counterweight, helping to maintain balance during jumps.
Irbis males are usually one third larger than females.
Thanks to the wide paws, snow leopards can safely walk even on loose snow without falling into it.
Females nursing kittens wrap them with their fluffy tail to protect them from the cold.
Snow leopards can jump from a run at a length 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 of the Russian Elbrus, and the atmospheric pressure is twice as low as at sea level ().
The stiff tubercles dotting the surface of the tongue of the snow leopards help them easily separate the meat from the bones.

Females of these big cats bring offspring once every 2 years, usually giving birth to 2-3 kittens. They spend with the mother the first two years of life, and then leave.
Irbises are the only cats on the planet that live so high in the mountains.
Extremely sharp vision allows them to see white prey on white snow from a distance of several kilometers.
From the point of view of biology, the tiger () is the closest relative of the snow leopard.
In captivity, snow leopards live for 20 years, and in the wild - for 11-12. The officially registered record of longevity is 28 years.
Irbis never attack people. Why is not known, although, of course, it is for the better.
They lead mainly a nocturnal lifestyle, preferring to sleep in a safe shelter during the day.
The international day of the snow leopard is considered October 23.
Unlike most other members of the feline family, irbis pupils are round rather than vertical.
Despite the fact that each male snow leopard has “his” territory, he will not show aggression when he meets another male on it.
The paws of the snow leopard are covered with hair, like a lynx. This also helps him not to fall into the snow ().
The length of the tail of the snow leopard 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 whole lives singly, and males meet with 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" in translation from one of the Turkic languages \u200b\u200bmeans "snow cat".
Snow leopards are no stranger to fun. Researchers have observed how they ride from the snow-covered slopes, lying on their backs, and then repeat this lesson without any purpose, just for fun.

Preserving the populations of snow leopard (snow leopard) and Altai mountain sheep (argali) 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 state of the populations of these species reflect the general “health” of the ecosystem, thus, they can be called indicator species.

Snow leopard is a mysterious predator of Asia. Threats and decisions.

The snow leopard (snow leopard) - a mysterious and mysterious beast - is still one of the most poorly studied feline species in the world. Very little is known about the biology and ecology of this rare predator, and its abundance within the limits of the modern range is determined very conditionally. For many Asian peoples, this beast 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 the snow leopard in the wild, it is much more common to find traces of its life activity - scratches, badasses of a predator on trees, wool, excrement, urinary points 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 individuals of a snow leopard, while on the planet there are no more than 4,000 individuals of a rare predator.

Photo traps in Tuva capture 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 trail in the Argut river valley, Gorny Altai, March 2012 © Sergey Spitsyn

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

What does WWF do to save the snow leopard?

Back in 2002, WWF-Russia experts prepared, approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation. The document was developed taking into account the very limited experience of studying and protecting the species in Russia. According to the Strategy, WWF experts estimated the number of snow leopard in Russia at 150-200 individuals, however, as further studies in the habitat of snow leopard in 2003-2011 showed. , the actual number of species in Russia is at least two times lower and hardly exceeds 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 on the northern limit of the 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 population of the species. Survival of the snow leopard in our country largely depends on the preservation of the spatial and genetic ties of its Russian groups with the main population core of the species in Western Mongolia and, possibly, in Northwest China.

In 2010, WWF moves to a new stage of work and in collaboration with numerous partners, and begins monitoring snow leopard populations using modern research methods: photo and video traps. This method made it possible to clarify the boundaries of the habitat of groups and the number of species. Disappointing conclusions were obtained from a study of the group of snow leopards in the Argut River Valley in the Altai Republic, formerly considered the largest in Russia. Only lynx recorded camera traps, despite the fact that the conditions for the existence of a snow leopard in Argut are ideal: high mountains, rocky gorges, the presence of the largest Siberian mountain goat group in Russia with 3200-3500 individuals - the main food of the snow leopard in Altai Sayan. 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 loop fishing prospered in the mountains. WWF's mission was to preserve the surviving remnants of the group and gradually restore its size.

One of the priorities of WWF is becoming support for anti-poaching activities. In the same year, at the initiative of WWF, a German shepherd dog, a German Shepherd Dog Eric, was trained as an assistant to specialists in the field to work in the Altai mountains in order to search for and identify traces of the life of the snow leopard.

In 2012, employees of the Altai Biosphere Reserve and WWF managed to get the first photo evidence of the snow leopard habitat: cameras recorded a female and a male, named Vita and Kryuk. In addition to photomonitoring for accounting and research of the elusive predator in collaboration with scientists of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution. A. N. Severtsova RAS (IPEE RAS), scientists use the method of DNA analysis of collected traces of the activity of snow leopards (excrement, wool, etc.), SLIMS and other modern techniques ...

In 2011, in the Altai, in order to distract the local population from poaching, illegal gathering of wild plants or logging in the region, the WWF and Citi Foundation launched a program to improve the quality of life of local residents and create a sustainable income from environmentally sustainable businesses. Through training seminars, the exchange of experience and the provision of micro-grants and microloans for the local population, WWF and Citi set goals to develop legal small businesses in the field of rural tourism and ecotourism in the habitats of the Altai mountain sheep and snow leopard, produce souvenirs and felt products, and improve indicators livestock quality, etc.

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

The snow leopard is a predator that does not recognize the borders of states. The well-being of this species directly depends on the connection of Russian groups with snow leopard groups in neighboring Mongolia and China. Therefore, the development of transboundary environmental cooperation is a priority for WWF in the region. Joint research, exchange of experience, scientific, environmental and educational events with WWF Mongolia and colleagues from other environmental structures of 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 protection activities.

Chibit Photo Trap

Sergey Istomov fixes traces of snow leopard

Irbis on Tsagaan-Shibetu, Tuva © A. Kuksin

What remains of the master of the mountains

What to do next

Today, the main threat to the snow leopard in the region remains illegal fishing with the help of wire loops. An inconspicuous noose is established by a poacher on an animal trail along which animals move, and, being drawn in as the beast moves, becomes a deadly trap. Poachers often throw cheap loops, and they remain wary for many years, threatening animal death. According to WWF experts, there are only a few cases of targeted production of snow leopard in the region. More often, loops are installed on other types of animals, in particular, musk deer, whose musky gland is an excellent and expensive trophy, which is valued on the eastern market of medicines and potions. Musk deer poaching 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 habitats of rare and endangered species. Particular attention is paid to the fight against the loop fishing.

Work in the Republic of Tuva has its own characteristics. In the region with the highest livestock in the Siberian Federal District, shepherds live in the highlands almost side by side with a snow leopard. The decrease in the number of wild ungulates, climate change - the reasons that make the snow leopard attack the livestock, which is the source of life for pastoralists. The shooting or trapping of a snow leopard by locals in revenge for an attack on livestock is a big threat to a predator in Tuva. WWF is taking different steps to reduce conflict. So, the scheme of compensating the shepherds for cattle lost as a result of the snow leopard attack was tested, measures are being taken to raise a special attitude to the rare predator among local residents. In 2010, thanks to a simple but effective measure to strengthen ventilation openings in covered cattle pens with a net-netting, we managed to prevent the attacks of snow leopards on cattle and save 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 territories. WWF plans to expand the network of protected areas or improve the status, as well as the quality of management protection and existing protected areas. The number of groupings in the Argut river valley is growing - photos and video traps fix the habitat of females with kittens, a new outbreak of the snow leopard was 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 each snow leopard species found in Russia and Mongolia - from shots from automatic cameras to meeting places and features of each snow leopard.

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

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

The snow leopard, also called the snow leopard, is the only species of large cats that have managed to adapt to the harsh conditions in the highlands. Irbis is a representative of the top of the ecological pyramid in the mountains of Central Asia. Often he is called the master of the mountains, because he is a permanent resident of this area. Many experts argue that this type of feline has survived to this day due to living in inaccessible places. It is very interesting where the snow leopard lives and what it eats. Indeed, today the number of representatives of this type of cat is extremely small.

The appearance of the snow leopard

Outwardly, the snow leopard is an incredibly beautiful and graceful predator. This is a pretty big cat with an ash-gray, sometimes brownish color and a bright ring-shaped pattern of dark spots located throughout the body. Irbis differs from a leopard in an ashy shade of fur and a long tail, which in its length is almost equal to the body of an animal. In addition, unlike his brother, the snow leopard has a thicker and lush coat. The length of the beast reaches, as a rule, 170-190 cm, and its weight ranges from 50-70 kg. Males are always larger than females.

Regardless of where the snow leopard lives, its body size and color remain unchanged. Although some experts are inclined to claim the existence of several subspecies of the snow leopard, which appeared due to different geographical habitats.

Saving view

Today it is very easy to find out where the snow leopard lives. After all, this species has long been listed in the Red Book, since its habitats are extremely few. This unpleasant phenomenon is due to the fact that in modern realities there are too many all kinds of threats to the life of the snow leopard. For example, in Russia, where the snow leopard lives, the species is gradually being destroyed by pastoralists and hunters, as well as the deteriorated state of the environment due to the development of the mining industry and transport infrastructure. In addition, the abundance of the species is significantly affected by the reduction in the number of food objects.

Fortunately, over the past few years, the number of animals has stabilized in the places where the snow leopard lives. The situation improved due to the opening of the Saylyugemsky National Park in Altai. True, the risk of extinction of the species is still quite high. In places where the snow leopard lives in Russia, you can count about 70 representatives of the snow leopard, most of which live in Altai. Compared to 2002, the number of animals per the territory of Russia decreased almost 3 times. This is due to the hunting of poachers who catch snow leopards for the sake of mining derivatives used in eastern medicine.

The threat of extinction

Once a single snow leopard population today is represented only by the third part, which exists only as unstable foci. Today, females that are able to breed are only in a few foci where the snow leopard lives. In fact, the group of animals in which at least 3 adult females are present can be considered full-fledged. So, unfortunately, despite some stabilization of the situation in Russia, the species of snow leopard is today under the threat of extinction.

Snow leopard breeding

This animal is characterized by a rather low breeding rate - the female snow leopard does not bring kittens annually, unlike most of its relatives. Gon occurs in the spring, and babies are born at the end of the season or early summer. In the mating season, the male attracts the female with a special purr. After fertilization, the snow leopard leaves the female. Pregnancy in snow leopards lasts approximately 95-110 days, and litter, as a rule, consists of 2-3 kittens.

Before the appearance of her baby, the female arranges a kind of den in some inaccessible place, most often in gorges of rocks. And in order to warm a well-maintained house, an irbis rips out shreds of wool from its body and covers them with the floor of the den. Leopards are born completely blind and deaf, their weight reaches half a kilogram, in the first month, babies are fed breast milk. In the middle of the season, the born offspring is already sent on its first hunt. Snow leopards become sexually mature at the age of 2-3 years.

Predator habitat

Where does the snow leopard live? The snow leopard is a territorial animal that leads a solitary lifestyle, despite the fact that the females raise their offspring for quite a long time. These animals equip their lairs in crevices of rocks or in caves. Each animal lives within a certain area, which is individually selected. Irbis does not tend to show aggression towards representatives of his species on his own territory.

One or several females may live on the habitat of an adult male. Irbis marks its locality in different ways. Where does the snow leopard meet? The predator often goes around its territory, visiting the camps of wild ungulates and pastures. The beast moves along the same route, so in some places it appears several times during the day.

Irbis is considered the only representative of a cat family that has adapted to the harsh conditions of the highlands in Central Asia. Due to the inaccessibility of habitats, the snow leopard is still the most poorly studied animal. Today, the snow leopard is a representative of the Red Book of the International Union and has the status of an endangered species in all countries where it lives. There are 12 such countries: China, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan. In total, there are no more than 4 thousand snow leopards on the planet.

Irbis in Russia

In Russia, the snow leopard is found in the north of the current range. AT mountains of Altai-Sayan Only a few snow leopard groups live in the region. In addition, the predator can be found in Buryatia, Khakassia, Tuva, Transbaikalia, Irkutsk region and Krasnoyarsk Territory. According to experts, it is in Russia that the northernmost snow leopard population group lives. The number of this species in Russia is approximately 2% of the total number of snow leopards in the world. We can say that the survival of predators in the Altai territory is largely dependent on genetic and spatial relationships with animals in Mongolia and China.

Snow cats in Kazakhstan

The places where the snow leopard lives in Kazakhstan are distinguished by the richness and diversity of flora and fauna. Here, the snow leopard is found in light forests, among the rocks and on alpine meadows where are the marmot colonies and pastures of ungulates. The highlands of Kazakhstan have an extremely complex terrain with many rocks, stones, precipices, gorges and snowy slopes. In these places, the risk of avalanches and mudflows is increased, which is why people rarely appear here. For the most part, it was due to this factor that the snow leopard was not exterminated in these parts. Other species of large cat animals that lived in more accessible places became extinct even before the creation of the Red Book.

The nature and lifestyle of the snow leopard

On its territory, a snow cat occupies the top of the food pyramid and does not experience almost any competition from other predators. The leopard can easily cope with prey, which is three times superior to him in weight. As a rule, the beast hunts alone at night, carefully crawling to the animal from behind the shelter or waiting for prey in an ambush, hiding behind a rock. When the distance between the predator and potential prey is reduced to several tens of meters, the leopard appears from the shelter and quickly overtakes the animal in large leaps. If the snow leopard misses, it pursues its prey for a maximum of 300 meters or does not chase it at all.

In the second half of the year, snow leopards are regularly hunted by families: male, female and offspring. In general, snow leopards hunt only on their own territory - an exceptional need can cause the beast to move to a foreign area. In times of famine, predators can go hunting near settlements, attacking even pets. However, hares are considered the basis for the nutrition of snow leopards, mountain goats wild boars, ular, sheep, marmots and roe deer. Leopards eat grass and other greens exclusively in the summer as a supplement to their meat ration.

In general, for snow cats, hunting is not only a way of obtaining food, but also a kind of entertainment. Irbis is able to track down a potential victim for hours, with virtually no movement. The leopards have almost no enemies, so they are absolutely not afraid to hunt in the dark.

Only a wild wolf is capable of causing trouble to a leopard, but even with such a beast the snow leopard is quite easy to handle. For people, a snow cat poses no threat: noticing a person, a predator tries to just quietly leave. True, in famine, cases of attacks by the beast were still recorded.

Compared to his other feline breeds, the snow leopard is quite friendly in nature. It can even be trained. In addition, tamed snow leopards love to play and spend time with people. When the predator feels good, he purrs like domestic cats. The leopard also knows how to growl, like its famous brothers, although he does not do it very loudly.