FaridAbdulganiyev: “We can work together – and this is already yielding”. Ministry of Ecology discussed establishment of a snow leopard breeding center in Tatarstan.

Issues of creating the interregional reintroduction, rehabilitation, breeding, and protectioncenterfor snow leopard was discussed today in the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan. Minister FaridAbdulganiyev met with the executive director of the National Fund “Conservation Country” Irina Sannikova, Director of FGBU “State nature biosphere reserve “Sayano-Shushensk” Gennady Kiselev, non-staff worker of FGBI “Sochi National Park” Victor Lukaretsky.

“Tatarstan has rich natural resources and abundant waters, we have a lot of specially protected natural areas”, – said FaridAbdulganiyev. He emphasized the positive experience of the Volga-Kama reserve in the study, preservation, and breeding of the white-tailed eagle, listed in the Red Book. As for a snow leopard, the Minister said that the experience of leading experts in the field of breeding and protection of wild animalsis currently studying. The lessons should be studied also to avoid mistakes in future. During the meeting it was noted that a rare species must be preserved, since there is a fear that snow leopards can disappear in Russiain the next 10-20 years. During the “round table” a number of issueswere discussed, in particular, the establishment of world-standard nurseries in Tatarstan.

Press-service of MENR of RT