Site icon Conservation news

Snow leopards and other mammals caught on camera trap in Uzbekistan (photos)

Scientists knew that snow leopards (Panthera uncia) still survived in the Central Asian country of Uzbekistan, but late last year they captured the first ever photos. Camera traps in the Gissar Nature Reserve took photos of the big cats, along with bear, lynx, ibex, wild boar, and other mammals. The camera trap program was led by biologists Bakhtiyor Aromov and Yelizaveta Protas working with Panthera, WWF’s Central Asia Program, and Uzbekistan’s Biocontrol Agency.


Founded in 1983, Gissar Nature Reserve is the largest protected area in the country. At nearly 81,000 hectares it protects an region of the Pamir Mountain range larger than Singapore.




A young ibex inspects a camera trap set in Uzbekistan's Gissar Nature Reserve. Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.

A young ibex inspects a camera trap set in Uzbekistan’s Gissar Nature Reserve. Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.

The IUCN Red List categorizes snow leopards as Endangered. Down to around 3,000-7,000 individuals, the great cats are imperiled by poaching, prey decline, human-wildlife conflict, and lack-of-knowledge about one of the world’s most elusive mammals. As one of the world’s biggest predators, snow leopards face a daunting challenge. A recent paper found that 75 percent of the world’s 31 biggest carnivores are in decline, including the snow leopard.



“With an improved understanding of [snow leopard] range and numbers we have a better chance to save them,” Tom McCarthy, the Executive Director of Panthera’s snow leopard program, said, adding that “Panthera has provided over 300 camera traps through partnerships such as this to better document the range of this elusive and endangered cat of central Asia’s mountains.”



A snow leopard in Uzbekistan’s Gissar Nature Reserve. Photo by: Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.
A snow leopard in Uzbekistan’s Gissar Nature Reserve. Photo by: Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.



A Himalayan brown bear, one of several predators with which the snow leopard shares its home, in Uzbekistan’s Gissar Nature Reserve. The subspecies is considered Endangered. Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.
A Himalayan brown bear, one of several predators with which the snow leopard shares its home, in Uzbekistan’s Gissar Nature Reserve. The subspecies is considered Endangered. Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.



An adult male ibex runs past a camera trap in Uzbekistan’s Gissar Nature Reserve. Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.
An adult male ibex runs past a camera trap in Uzbekistan’s Gissar Nature Reserve. Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.



A wild Eurasian lynx. Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.
A wild Eurasian lynx. Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.



A wild boar, an important prey animal for snow leopards. Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.
A wild boar, an important prey animal for snow leopards. Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.



A curious hare inspects a camera trap. Hare serve as one of several sources of prey for snow leopards. Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.
A curious hare inspects a camera trap. Hare serve as one of several sources of prey for snow leopards. Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.



A female ibex and kid inspect a camera trap in Uzbekistan’s Gissar Nature Reserve. Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.
A female ibex and kid inspect a camera trap in Uzbekistan’s Gissar Nature Reserve. Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.



Two snow leopards run past a camera trap in Uzbekistan's Gissar Nature Reserve. Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.
Two snow leopards run past a camera trap in Uzbekistan’s Gissar Nature Reserve. Photo by: ©Y. Protas/Panthera/WWF Central Asia Program/Uzbek Biocontrol Agency/Gissar Nature Reserve.











Related articles


Exit mobile version