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from the western Pamir region, there was very little interest in Snow Leopard skins until the
mid-1990s and most animals were traded alive before this time. Sometimes villagers
accidentally catch Snow Leopards in traps that were destined for wolves other animals but,
since the late 1990s, Snow Leopards have increasingly been killed with the incentive of trading
in the animals’ skins. It is estimated that up to 10 live animals a year were caught in 1996 and
1997 (Atobeck, Director of the Murgab Hunting Ground, pers. comm., 2002) and, in 1992, a
German hunting party was offered the chance of hunting Marco Polo Sheep Ovis ammon polii
and Snow Leopards in the Pamir Mountains (Cunha, 1997). From Tajikistan, the majority of
the skins is transported to Kyrgyzstan for further trade, for example to the Russian Federation,
or to wealthy people or foreign visitors in Dushanbe, capital city of Tajikistan. One skin was
offered for sale in Dushanbe, in 1995, for around USD300-400 and around 10 skins were
confiscated at the border with Kyrgyzstan by Customs officers (Chestin, 1998). Trade with
Russian soldiers based in Tajikistan has also been reported (M. Kadamshoev, Pamir Institute of
Biology, in litt., 2002).
As in Uzbekistan, shepherds have been reported to pursue Snow Leopards threatening their
livestock, but not to harbour general hostility towards Snow Leopards (Kreuzberg-Mukhina et
al., 2002).
Russian Federation
Illegal killing, loss of prey species, as a result of extensive hunting of wild ungulates, retributive
killings following the taking of domestic livestock and accidental killings with traps and poison
laid for other animals are all threats to Snow Leopards in the Russian Federation. The main
reason for illegal killings of Snow Leopards is likely to be a desire to trade in their skins
(Poyarkov, 2002).
Altay-Sayan, Khakasia, Krasnoyarsk Kray
At an international conference held in the Sayan-Shushinski National Reserve in March 1999,
representatives from the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan and Mongolia noted a dramatic
increase of Snow Leopard killings in the “Altai-Sayan Ecoregion” (a vast mountainous area that
lies across the borders of the Russian Federation, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan, designated
a region crucial to the conservation of biological diversity by WWF). In most instances, this
increase was directly related to an increased demand for Snow Leopard skins. There are several
reports of Snow Leopards poached in the Russian part of the Altay-Sayan Ecoregion and it is
estimated that up to 25 animals are killed each year, from a population of around 120-150
individuals (Poyarkov, 2002). Poaching is reported to occur in response to orders from dealers
from Novosibirsik and Krasnoyarsk (Siberia) and Yekaterinburg (in the eastern foothills of the
Urals). Poyarkov (2002) reports that in Krasnoyarsk Krai (central Siberia), Chinese middlemen
and traders are increasingly involved in the trade and sale of wildlife products and have started
to set up networks of contacts. A similar scenario is reported from Novosibirsk, Siberia’s largest
city, described as an important centre for illegally traded Snow Leopard skins (Poyarkov, 2002).
The most common methods used to hunt Snow Leopards is with a noose trap. However, Snow
Leopards are also accidentally caught in traps intended for other animals. For example, six
Snow Leopards were reported to have died in musk deer traps in the Krasnoyarsk Region and
scientists of the Sayan-Syushinski Nature Reserve in the Altai Republic estimate that up to three
46 FADING FOOTPRINTS: the killing and trade of Snow Leopards