October 23, 2023
Snow Leopard Day
Today, on October 23, the International Snow Leopard Day is celebrated. This day was established 10 years ago, in October 2013, at the World Snow Leopard Conservation Forum in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan).
Snow leopards are one of the rarest cats in the world. In total, about 4,000 individuals live on the planet, of which about 90 live in Russia. This species is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Annex to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Mostly leopards live in mountainous areas, sometimes at an altitude of about 3000 meters above sea level. They are perfectly adapted to life in harsh conditions. These cats can cover a distance of 15 meters in a jump and climb on a vertical surface to a height of up to 6 meters. The wide pads of their paws allow them to walk in the snow, and the thick fur protects them from the cold. The long, fluffy tail serves as a blanket for the leopards when they lie down to rest, and a balance beam when jumping. In general, snow leopards are the record holders for the relative length of the tail among cats: with a body length of about 150 centimeters, the tail can reach 90 centimeters in length.
Snow leopards are excellent swimmers and hunters. They can attack prey 3 times larger than themselves, and a blow from a powerful paw is quite capable of damaging the skull of a large animal.
And snow leopards are also called snow leopards, and they do not know how to growl. But they can purr and make high-pitched sounds that vaguely resemble meowing. The acoustics in the mountains are good, so other leopards can hear them at a distance of up to 8 km!
But, despite such a good adaptation to natural conditions, the population of leopards is under threat due to the destruction by man of their food supply and hunting for thick, beautiful fur.
The Notaivori Foundation, together with the Sayano-Shushensky State Natural Biosphere Reserve, located on the left bank of the Yenisei River in the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, is making every possible effort to restore the population. In 2018, only one leopard was officially registered in the reserve, a male named Ichthyander (apparently, leopards really swim well). Now, thanks to the relocation program of leopards from Tajikistan, there are already 9 leopards. The male and 2 females who arrived at the reserve have adapted perfectly and have already given offspring twice.
Thanks to the funding of the Foundation and the partner of the Foundation, Relief Center LLC, this year nature conservation raids and a number of other measures for the conservation of snow leopards are being held in the reserve.
Snow leopards are very secretive animals. Employees of the Sayano-Shushensky Reserve regularly monitor them with cameras and camera traps.
Snow leopards are one of the rarest cats in the world. In total, about 4,000 individuals live on the planet, of which about 90 live in Russia. This species is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Annex to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Mostly leopards live in mountainous areas, sometimes at an altitude of about 3000 meters above sea level. They are perfectly adapted to life in harsh conditions. These cats can cover a distance of 15 meters in a jump and climb on a vertical surface to a height of up to 6 meters. The wide pads of their paws allow them to walk in the snow, and the thick fur protects them from the cold. The long, fluffy tail serves as a blanket for the leopards when they lie down to rest, and a balance beam when jumping. In general, snow leopards are the record holders for the relative length of the tail among cats: with a body length of about 150 centimeters, the tail can reach 90 centimeters in length.
Snow leopards are excellent swimmers and hunters. They can attack prey 3 times larger than themselves, and a blow from a powerful paw is quite capable of damaging the skull of a large animal.
And snow leopards are also called snow leopards, and they do not know how to growl. But they can purr and make high-pitched sounds that vaguely resemble meowing. The acoustics in the mountains are good, so other leopards can hear them at a distance of up to 8 km!
But, despite such a good adaptation to natural conditions, the population of leopards is under threat due to the destruction by man of their food supply and hunting for thick, beautiful fur.
The Notaivori Foundation, together with the Sayano-Shushensky State Natural Biosphere Reserve, located on the left bank of the Yenisei River in the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, is making every possible effort to restore the population. In 2018, only one leopard was officially registered in the reserve, a male named Ichthyander (apparently, leopards really swim well). Now, thanks to the relocation program of leopards from Tajikistan, there are already 9 leopards. The male and 2 females who arrived at the reserve have adapted perfectly and have already given offspring twice.
Thanks to the funding of the Foundation and the partner of the Foundation, Relief Center LLC, this year nature conservation raids and a number of other measures for the conservation of snow leopards are being held in the reserve.
Snow leopards are very secretive animals. Employees of the Sayano-Shushensky Reserve regularly monitor them with cameras and camera traps.
But in July of this year, a special expedition was organized, during which the reserve staff, representatives of the Khakass Republican branch of the Russian Geographical Society and photographer Mikhail Vershinin were able to observe a family of four snow leopards – a mother and three grown–up kittens - in the wild, and even take pictures. The animals reacted calmly to the presence of people and posed for the camera.
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