Kazakh zoologists have developed
an innovative method for tracking the movement of snow leopards. Now, it will
be possible to monitor the predators using satellite telemetry. Until recently,
camera traps were considered the only method for tracking snow leopards. It is
noteworthy that over the past 30 years, the population of snow leopards has
doubled. Currently, there are around 180 individuals in the territory of the
country, with 120 of them inhabiting specially protected national parks and
reserves.
“A total of 10 snow leopards have
been tagged with special satellite transmitters, and we are monitoring their
movements. The advantage of using satellite telemetry is that we can track
their movements in real-time. We know the location of a snow leopard at any
given moment, study the areas of its habitats, explore the paths of its
migration, and can organize its protection,” said Alexey Grachev, laboratory head
at the Institute of Zoology.
Special collars equipped with
sensors allow specialists to track not only the location but also the health
status of the predators. This technology is also convenient for monitoring the
population of snow leopards. According to scientists, the positive trend in the
snow leopard population growth continues.
“At the Institute of Zoology, a
cryobank of the genetic material of the snow leopard has been created.
According to our information, there are 11 individuals, both males and females.
We have recently learned about new migration routes and the establishment of
specially protected areas there. To date, we do not observe any risks of a
decrease in population or the overall loss of the species,” said Daniyar
Turgambayev, Acting Chairman of Committee, Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and
Natural Resources.
Web-editor: Aizhan
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