The Tien-Shan Mountains are one of the key regions for rare mammals such as argali (Ovis ammon), ibex (Capra Ibex), manul (Felis Pallas), lynx (Felis lynx) marmot (Marmota), and snow leopard (Uncia uncia) IUCN Status: III, Critically Endangered, CR, C2a(i). The Sarychat-Ertash State Nature Reserve is an important component of the habitat of snow leopards and wolves and their main natural prey species, the argali and ibex. Large numbers of people living in and around protected areas are highly dependent on the natural resources. Human activity increasingly threatens wide-ranging ungulate populations.

Project will focus on capacity enhancement of rangers and local conservationists by using modern techniques for better conservation and monitoring of critically endengared snow leopards and their prey populations. In Kyrgyzstan most areas have also long been used for livestock grazing by local farmers. Livestock depredation by carnivores has resulted in human/wildlife conflict that hinders the conservation of these globally-threatened species throughout their range. In communities with a subsistence economy even small losses can be of economic importance and this can generate negative attitudes towards wildlife and conservation in general.

Project will contribute a wealth of ground-breaking practical knowledge on how best to conserve this secretive and poorly understood species and establish good understanding among locals that wild life can give more benefits rather than poaching and consuming. “Wild-life Day” will be organized at the local secondary school; presentation of migration route survey by using sattellite collars will be presented.