Russia began counting snow leopards and ibex
MOSCOW, 1 Mar — RIA Novosti. The count listed in the Red book of snow leopards (uncia) and the ibex, which leopards prey, began in the Altai, in Buryatia and Tuva, according to the world wildlife Fund (WWF) Russia.
“At the initiative of WWF in Russia once again conducts surveys. This year will be surveyed, record the area of potential habitat of rare predator. The main task — clarification of the number of snow leopard and the objects of its power, assessment of the status of key snow leopard populations in Russia. This information is necessary in order to improve species conservation and to understand what measures should be taken,” the message reads.
As explained in the Fund, the counting will be held in the Altai valley of river Argut, on the ridges of the Chikhachev range, South Chuya and Kurai; in Buryatia Tunkinsky ridges loaches, Munku-Sardyk, a Large and Kropotkin Sayan and Tuva ranges on the Tsagan-Shibetu, Mongun-Taiga, Tannu-Ola, Khemchikskaya. In the one-time continuous registration to take part the largest for all years of studies of a rare predator, the number of organizations and professionals. Data from all areas will be collected by the end of March, and the results of the WWF will be announced in April.
“Despite the fact that I am dedicated to snow leopard conservation for more than a decade, only last year we managed seriously to unite the efforts of experts and to cover serious territory, to work on a uniform methodology. Again this year each region in the field work will involve state organizations and NGOs, as well as local residents and volunteers,” says senior researcher, Altai state reserve, a WWF expert Sergei Spitsyn.
According to WWF, the population of snow leopard in Russia as a whole remains stable. Only in our country, there are about 50-70, the presence 41 of them confirmed by automatic cameras. The main threats to snow leopards everywhere is poaching, mainly using the wire loops, usually installed on musk deer, as well as the decrease in the ungulate population — the main prey of snow leopards.