Scientific programs will be launched at the Snow Leopard Center in Altai
On March 14, at the International Conference "Study and conservation of the snow leopard in the world. Joining Forces" in Kazan, an agreement was signed on cooperation in the educational, scientific and technical fields in the field of studying, protecting and increasing the population of snow leopards for the possibility of implementing joint scientific programs based on the facilities of the Snow Leopard Research Center in the Altai Republic. Conservation of the snow leopard population is one of the main goals of the national Environmental Well-being project.
The agreement was signed by the Director of the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Sergey Naidenko, President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan Rifkat Minnikhanov, Director of the Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology of Kazan Federal University Andrey Kiyasov, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Irbis Center Ali Uzdenov, Alexander Shadrikov, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan.
After signing the agreement, the management of PJSC Tatneft named after V. D. Shashin presented a Certificate for the transfer of the facilities of the Scientific Research Center for the Conservation of Biological Diversity "Snow Leopard" in the Altai Republic to a Consortium of strategic partners.
"The snow leopard is the top of the food pyramid in Altai. By saving it, in fact, we are saving the entire ecosystem. In the future, this center will work not only for the snow leopard, but also for a number of other rare species of Altai. The main task of the center is scientifically based reintroduction – restoration of wild animal populations, including the snow leopard. Individuals from Kyrgyzstan have already been imported, and more animals from Mongolia are expected," said the Director of the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Sergey Naidenko.
On the basis of the modern complex of the Center, strategic partners will be able to conduct in-depth scientific research, implement joint programs and expand international cooperation in the study and conservation of the snow leopard.
Let us recall that in 2022, at the initiative of the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, a Scientific Center for the conservation of biological diversity with a priority species for study – the snow leopard was created. Work on its construction in the Maiminsky district of the Altai Republic was completed in 2024, and in early 2025, the first three individuals were brought to the center – males Batyr, Zhanish and a female Umai, later joined by a female from the Perm Region Kisunya. The project is being implemented with the support of Tatneft and the scientific support of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution named after A. N. Severtsov of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The facility complex consists of a research building with a laboratory, a veterinary unit, an economic unit, an aviary complex and residential buildings for researchers.