Today is Snow Leopard Day

May 26 is Snow Leopard Day. The ecological holiday appeared in 2010 in the Altai in order to attract the people attention to the problems of the snow leopard population reduction. To date, the number of these large carnivorous mammals of the felines family, living in the mountains of Russia, is about 200 individuals. Snow leopard is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation and the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The main cause of extinction is the destruction of animals by poachers, attracted by valuable fur with unusual colour.
The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan pays special attention to the problem of reducing the number of snow leopards. Minister of Ecology Farid Abdulganiev noted that it is necessary to preserve a rare species, since there is a fear that in the next 10-20 years these leopards will disappear from the territory of Russia. To solve this issue, an interregional centre for reintroduction, rehabilitation, breeding, and protection of the snow leopard will be established on the territory of the republic. The main works on the creation of the centre will be held in the Year of Ecology.

Press Service of MENR of RT