In the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, snow leopards ruined three camera traps spying on them (video)

In the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve in the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the winter stage of field monitoring of the snow leopard has ended. Specialists had to replace three camera traps, which were damaged by young snow leopards.

In total, 18 snow leopards live in the reserve: 7 adult females, 5 males and 6 kittens born in the previous year. This is a stable number of snow leopards for the territory. A special survey expedition, which lasted 3 weeks, helped determine the number of predators and their habitats. Despite severe frosts and piercing winds, the expedition was successful. Experts noted the high activity of snow leopards.

“Traces of the life activity of snow leopards were found almost everywhere: from typical scratches and burrs on trees to fresh paw prints on snowmobile roads,” say the expedition members.

During the census, more than 60 automatic photo recorders were checked. Three of them had to be replaced: young leopards are showing increased interest in the devices. Snow leopards gnaw casings, bite through lenses and sometimes tear devices from their installation sites, carrying them away in an unknown direction.

“Photos and video materials showed that the kittens Klepa and Musya, who were born last year, have grown and become stronger, and are successfully enduring the harsh winter. The offspring of the Tajik female, born in 2024, are taking their first steps into an independent life, gradually leaving their mother,” the press service said.

The reserve explained that snow leopards make up the Western Sayan group, which lives on the territory of two reserves: Sayano-Shushensky (Krasnoyarsk Territory) and the Khan-Deer cluster of the Ubsunur Basin reserve (Republic of Tyva). Snow leopards migrate between them. For example, Sayan, born in 2020 to a Tajik female, went to Tuva, where he has been living for three years. This winter, camera traps caught two males and a female who came from the territory of “Khan-Deer”.

“This once again confirms the existence of a single group and determines the need for an integrated approach to snow leopard conservation,” noted the reserve’s press service.

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