This beautiful big cat, with smoky grey fur dotted with black spots and rosettes, has an uncanny ability to disappear among the rocks and rugged slopes it inhabits. Living in patches of suitable habitat among the Earth’s most remote and challenging regions, snow leopards have likely always been rare, and rarely seen as well. Nonetheless, this cat’s charisma is so great that it figures largely in the cultures of predominantly pastoral people in its range, and is a symbol of high-mountain ecosystems.
Saving Kyrgyzstan’s snow leopards is of high priority for the survival of the species. This is because the country lies between northern snow leopard populations, in Russia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan, and the more southerly ones in the Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges. Snow leopards are migratory, and Kyrgyzstan serves as a corridor between these two populations. Their intermixing strengthens the overall gene pool.
Popular Culture
The snow leopard is an important cultural symbol in Central Asia and figures widely in folklore and local beliefs. An example of this is the supernatural beings of the Wakhi people of Central Asia, which are said to have taken the form of snow leopards. The snow leopard is the state animal of the cities of Bishkek in the Kyrgyz Republic, Samarkand in Uzbekistan, and Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan.
The mountains themselves have a special role in cultures and beliefs of people in the snow leopard range. Many mountain communities have deep spiritual beliefs that stem from the mountain environment, and particular mountains and sites are embedded as shrines or pilgrimage destinations. The grandeur of the high mountains of Central Asia has also inspired artists, poets, and mountaineers through the ages.
Snow leopards and humans share the same landscapes, and with that comes certain complications. Livestock compete with prey for valuable grasslands which can lead to habitat degradation, and spur human wildlife conflict. Potentially, livestock attacks from snow leopards could increase in the future due to a reduction in wild prey availability, or livestock moving into snow leopard habitats. This, in turn, could have an impact on farmers’ livelihoods, and result in increased retaliatory killing.
Wildlife in Baiboosun Nature Reserve
Location: Kyrgyzstan
Baiboosun Gorge, Ton District, Issyk-Kul Region
Area: 14.000 hectares
Public micro-reserve since 2018
Objective: Preserve biodiversity and ecosystems
Baiboosun Gorge, Ton District, Issyk-Kul Region
Area: 14.000 hectares
Public micro-reserve since 2018
Objective: Preserve biodiversity and ecosystems
Situated in the Issyk-Kul region of the Central Asian Republic of Kyrgyzstan, Baiboosun Nature Reserve spans 14 thousand hectares and encompasses mountain peaks soaring to an altitude of 4763 meters. Pioneering community-led nature reserve initiatives in the country, it holds a significant position in the realm of snow leopard conservation in Central Asia.
Back in 2019, a team of scientists from the National Academy of Sciences of Kyrgyzstan conducted an expedition in Baiboosun Nature Reserve and confirmed a high level of biodiversity. Snow leopards and 17 other species of mammals which are included in the Red Book of Kyrgyzstan were recorded. In addition, 60 species of birds (of which 6 species are included in the Red Book of Kyrgyzstan and the International Union for Conservation of Nature) and over 500 species of plants were recorded.
Risky Data Collection
The cameras traps at Baiboosun Nature Reserve are located within the snow leopard landscape, with some cameras reaching 3800 metres altitude. The task of collecting the footage and data involves a high level of risk for our team because of this. Because of the remote location where the cameras are installed, as well as the unpredictably harsh climate in these high mountains, only the most experienced members of our team can perform this task.
Baiboosun Nature Reserve has played a important role in the the establishment of Now for Wildlife. By immersing ourselves in the reserve for two years alongside the communities sharing habitats with snow leopards, we gained firsthand insights into front line conservation.
Some of the ideas that emerged from our experience included:
- Creation of an interactive website dedicated to global snow leopard conservation, complemented by the use of impactful visual documentation.
- Technical support to the rangers included on-site equipment repairs and 3D printing of parts for camera traps, enhancing their functionality.
- Development of an innovative system to enhance camera coverage in the reserve, reducing the need for frequent physical access.
- Utilization of art as a catalyst to promote messages of gender equality and environmental protection in nearby villages.
- Transformation of waste into resources within communities, specifically repurposing plastic packaging.
- Empowerment of youth through a student grant program at Baiboosun Nature Reserve for conservation initiatives.
- Engagement of communities through the use of comics to communicate environmental challenges in Kyrgyzstan.
- Implementation of a proactive approach using questionnaires to monitor the team's dynamics where team members feel empowered to address and resolve internal matters.
Our voluntary and independent efforts at Baiboosun Nature Reserve led to increased funding, participation in international grants, and the implementation of innovative ideas tailored to the genuine needs of wildlife in the reserve.
Silent Impact
Unfortunately, these efforts have gone unrecognized by the managing organizations, except when it served their self-promotion in the media. The reluctance to acknowledge these efforts stems from the threat posed to the conventional mindset of local conservation organizations, which often lack research and development in the front line and just prioritize initiatives driven by donors, as that sustains their administrative infrastructure. This is a significant factor contributing to project failures in remote landscapes, short-lived endeavors, and misleading portrayals of success that don't align with reality.
We've learned a lot from being on the front lines of snow leopard protection, and that knowledge guides our ongoing commitment to protect the environment while inspiring others to share our passion for nature and wildlife.