The Snow Leopard Population Groupings in Kazakhstan

1 - «Western Tien-Shan grouping» is administratively located within South Kazakhstan and Dzhambul (Zhambylsky) areas. Irbis here occupies several ridges adjoining on Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. It regularly meets in Talassky Ala Tau, on the Ugamsky ridge and in a part of Karzhantau ridge. Habitats of an irbis on the Ugamsky ridge are in upper courses of the rivers Ugam and to Sairam, Ularsaj and Chilhursaj. In Talassky Ala Tau, in territory of Aksu-Zhabaglinsky game reserve in the top parts of gorges of the rivers: Zhabagly, Kshikaindy, Balabaldarbek and Aksu. Rough number of irbis here are 8-10 individuals. The snow leopard is also found within the Kazakhstan part of the Kirghiz ridge (Kyrghyz Alatau) concerning northern Tien-Shan, but geographically close to considered area. Here snow leopards can be found in high-mountainous parts of such large gorges as: Asparinsky, Merkensky and Karakystak, approximately to level of village Lugovoye where animals come from Kyrgyzstan. In the Kazakhstan portion of the Kirghiz Ala Tau, there are no protected natural territories. There are not even rough estimates of the number of snow leopards.

2 - «North Tien-Shan grouping». Here the irbis occupies ridges in the southern part of Almaty area, bordered with Kyrgyzstan and China. It is Zailijsky Ala Tau, eastern part of Kungej-Alatau, and also a ridge of Ketmen (or Uzynkara). Here it makes sense to carry and a small part of ridges of Terskej of Ala Tau and a Sary-Jaz, belonging to Central Tjan-Shanju.  Regular sightings of a snow leopard in Zailijsky Ala Tau occur in territory of Almaty reserve and in territory Ile-Alatau National Park near the city of Almaty with the population more than one million people. In spite of the fact that a large city’s boundaries comes into the mountain habitat of an irbis it is under protection at several protected areas: ООПТ - Almaty reserve, Ile-Alatau National Park and Almaty Wildlife Sanctuary. Number of a snow leopard in this grouping is not less than 35-45 individuals.

3 - «Dzhungar population»of irbis is also within Almaty region. The most important ridges here are: Toksanbai, Borohoro adjoining in China and the Central Dzungarian ridge or Zhetysujsky Ala Tau. Traces of an irbis are marked on all extent of Dzungarian Ala Tau. These are upper courses of rivers: Tokhty, Terekty, Rgajty, Tentek, Lepsi, Aksu, Karatal, Koksu and their numerous inflows. Irbis are only in the eastern half of ridge from the river of Aksu in the west and to Chindal in the east, with a population estimated earlier at approximately 20-25 individuals (the Red Book of Kazakhstan, 1978). It is possible to name Dzungarian Ala Tau one of the major habitats within area of a snow leopard in Kazakhstan which is "the bridge" connecting Tien-Shan with Saur-Tarbagatai and Altai populations. There is an irbis population in a high-mountainous part of a ridge the Altyn-Emel and Kojandytau. This grouping totals about 45-55 snow leopards.

There are reports of sightings of irbis in Dzungarian Ala Tau 20-30 years ago and at lower elevations. For example, approximately 20 years ago in the winter the leopard was observed near an integrated poultry farm in Malinovka, located to the east of the city of Tekeli at height about 1000 m. (R. Minibaev, message from Tekeli). Also, there are reports of snow leopard in the Alakolsky hollow, to the east of Dzungarian Ala Tau in semi-desert district that proves existence of a migratory route from these hills towards Tarbagatai and Saur. There are also authentic data on occurrence of leopards at low elevations: in Maxim Zverev's book “Snow Leopard” (Alma-Ata, Kainar, 1989), two snow leopards were observed traveling on ice through the river Ile from Zailijsky range towards the Dzhungarsky Alatau.   On 11 January 2010, there was a meeting of Renat Minibaev from Tekeli with snow leopard in Korinsky canyon in Dzungarian Ala Tau. It was at an approximate elevation of 1600 m. above sea level in fir-tree forest. It was possible to photograph the irbis from a very short distance (1.5 m.). These pictures are unique, as well as the meeting of a snow leopard and a person with a dog. Last decade, sightings of a snow leopard and its sign in the eastern part of a ridge in upper courses of the rivers Monteke, Kyzyltal, Lepsy, Aganakaty were recorded.

4 - "South Altay". This population of snow leopards living in the Kazakhstan part of Altai-Sayan eco-region has boundaries with Russia and China. In the Kazakhstan part of Altai, the snow leopard is the rarest animal. Its number does not more than 10 individuals. The basic habitats are limited to 4 ridges: Southern-Altai, Tarbagatay (Buhtarminsky), Sarymsakty and Katunsky ridge. There are annual reports of irbis sign from Katon-Karagai region of the East Kazakhstan. Basically, it is vicinities of Berkutaul mount on a ridge of Sarymsakty and of Crystal Mountain in Tarbagatai ridge (Buhtarminsky or Altai- Tarbagatai). In November 2010, snow leopard sign were found in village Archaty in territory of Katon-Karagai National Park.

On the ridges lying to the northwest of this area - Holzun, Koksujsky, Ivanovsky, only individual sightings of snow leopards are recorded. Under the data reported  by helicopter pilot Gubarev to zoologist Boris Shcherbakov in 1970, one snow leopard was observed in rocks of a high-mountainous zone of a ridge Holzun on border with Russia. An adult male snow leopard was caught in a trap in the winter in 1983 on the northern slope of mountain “Kamenistaya” near Cheremshanka (80 kilometres from Ust-Kamenogorsk). Unfortunately, this animal (male) died. The same year, one more snow leopard was trapped on the Linejsky ridge in territory of present West Altay Game Reserve. It also was dead, and its skin is with V.A. Klimov in Ridder. On Ivanovsky ridge around sources of the rivers of White Uba (Belaya Uba) and Turgusun in March 1980, a group of tourists of Ust-Kamenogorsk tourist club "Iskatel" observed a snow leopard. The leader of the group, Andrey Lozhnikov, was out in front of the others and observed a snow leopard on snow-covered plain of top of a ridge. This irbis was eating a white partridge. Having seen the person, the snow leopard did not exhibit aggression and slowly departed.

Thus, migrations in northern direction to the Ivanovsky and Linejsky ridges (Western Altai) from the basic habitats in East Kazakhstan (ridges: Southern-Altai - Tarbagatai - Sarymsakty - Katunsky) happened in earlier years and they are quite possible now. The latest sighting is made by the employee of West Alatjsky Reserve Vinokurova Ludmila Her son working in Riddersky mountain-concentrating industrial complex, has informed that its employees, during excursion in mountains saw a snow leopard on the Ivanovsky ridge (near Ridder) in June 2011. This fact, certainly demands acknowledgement.

About the current distribution of an irbis in Kazakhstan it is possible to ascertain that the basic areas of its distribution and habitat remain as in earlier years.  But, unfortunately the lack of research and information on snow leopard from some regions of Kazakhstan does not allow exact calculation of its population and to designate borders of its distribution. Distribution of this rare species in Kazakhstan puts many questions before researchers and the necessity of carrying out of serious field researches by the developed techniques of monitoring, such as E. Koshkarev's technique or SLIMS and with camera traps.

5 - «Saur-Tarbagatai population» of irbis is in limits of two ridges: higher Saur to 3722.6 m. (Muztau peak) and more extended Tarbagatai, located within the East Kazakhstan region. In Saur on border with China snow leopard sightings are documented annually. The sightings all basically occurred near mountain Muztau. 1960 was the 70th years of leopards observed on a ridge of Saur, in natural boundaries Majchat, Uvaly (where has been extracted) and in the Karman-Sai three times. In April 1978, the irbis was again observed three times in a high-mountainous zone of Saur.  Forester J.V. Jakovenko observed an irbis going towards top of Muztau. On northern slope of a ridge in natural boundary Kyzylkija, A. Bukobaev observed signs of an irbis. He has reported a sighting of this predator in natural boundary Batima in sources of  Kenderlyk. On a watershed of sources of the rivers Kenderlyka and Abyly in 1977 during hunting on arkhars (Ovis ammon collium), one irbis was killed. Hunters have noticed that snow leopard jumped 11 m up from a 4-metre rock, during attack having broken to arkhar 3 ribs and a cervical vertebra. The huntsman A. Doldanov from Tarbagatajsky area informs that in 1970 on a ridge of Manrak from mountains Saur, he observed periodically arkhars followed by snow leopards.

The population of mountain goats (Capra sibirica) on Saur is stable (the registration data is not available). In Saur and Tarbagatai, the Kazakhstan’s mountain sheep or Arkhar (Ovis ammon collium, Severtzov 1873) is usual. In Tarbagatai snow leopards have not been sighted for a long time in spite of the fact that arkhars migrate through this ridge. In this population, the snow leopard is very rare - apparently, no more than 5 individuals. Its ability to live and its distribution here have not been studied. The Tarbagatajsky Wildlife Sanctuary protects the arkhars and this sanctuary is planned to be transformed to national park.