"Tatarstan is seen as a reference region, which is responsible for the conservation of the snow leopard." Agreements on cooperation between the Snow Leopard Scientific Center and leading enterprises of Tatarstan were signed in Kazan today
Today, on the International Snow Leopard Day in Kazan, three cooperation Agreements were signed between the Snow Leopard Scientific Center and JSC TAIF, JSC Nefis Cosmetics and JSC Tatspirtprom.
Tatarstan Minister of Ecology Alexander Shadrikov noted that the signing of Agreements is of great importance in the conservation of the snow leopard:
"Today, with the support of Rustam Minnikhanov, the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan, Tatneft Company has established one of the world's best feline research centers. We see the support of our Tatarstan enterprises, all of them are socially oriented. Their contribution is a great help in the implementation of the project for the development of the scientific center "Snow Leopard" in Altai. In March, we held an international conference, which was attended by 12 countries of the snow leopard habitats. Tatarstan is seen as a reference region that will be responsible for the conservation of the snow leopard. In Russia, there are from 72 to 90 leopards left. For us, the snow leopard is a symbol, and today we consciously took responsibility for the preservation and enhancement of this symbol."
Cooperation will be carried out in a number of areas: the implementation of projects aimed at the conservation and restoration, study and scientific research of the snow leopard, the conservation and restoration of rare, red-listed animal species and their habitats, the creation of an effective system for monitoring the snow leopard population, minimizing the negative impact of anthropogenic factors on sustainable groups of snow leopards and their habitats, the creation of incentives to develop the economic activity of the local population, to preserve the snow leopard, to educate the public and to raise the level of ecological culture of the population.
The Republic of Tatarstan is actively involved in projects for the conservation of the snow leopard, which corresponds to the goals of the national project "Environmental well-being". On behalf of the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, with the support of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation and with the scientific support of the A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, the Russian Academy of Sciences initiated creation of the Snow Leopard Scientific Research Center for the Conservation of Biological Diversity. In 2022, following the visit of Rustam Minnikhanov to the Altai Republic, it was decided to locate the Center's facilities on the territory of Karym in the Maiminsky district of Altai.
The Tatarstan Center is preparing to conduct scientific research in key areas, including breeding and preparation for the reintroduction of snow leopards into nature, scientific research, environmental education and international cooperation.
As part of the Scientific Program for the restoration of the snow leopard, adopted following cooperation with the Kyrgyz Republic, on October 23, 2024, three snow leopard specimens were delivered to the Center: males Batyr and Janish, as well as a female Umai. In December 2024, they were joined by a female Kisunya from the Krasnoyarsk Flora and Fauna Park "Roev Ruchey", born in the Perm Zoo. Snow leopards are kept in comfortable conditions and are well adapted to the natural conditions of the Altai Mountains.
The relevance of the work on the conservation of the snow leopard was also confirmed by the large-scale international forum "Study and Conservation of the snow leopard in the world. Joining forces" held in March 2025 in Kazan. Experts from 12 countries of the snow leopard habitat took part in it.