Snow leopard -- one of the rarest and least studied members of the cat family, as well as a recognized symbol of the Central Asian region. The snow leopard is on the emblem of Almaty. What do we know about them and what can we do to preserve them? Listed on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a threatened species, the snow leopard can still be found in Kazakhstan, Bhutan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, China, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, within the area spanning 500,000 sq.km.
Reasons for the animal’s disappearance remain unchanged – an anthropogenic human activity in the mountains, which has been destroying the snow leopard’s natural habitat, as well as poaching, threatening these animals for their beautiful fur. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), alongside with the national partners, actively advocates for the preservation of the snow leopard and its habitat across Kazakhstan to prevent the disappearance of this rare animal. A special project to preserve the snow leopard has been under implementation since 2018, under the cooperation of UNDP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with the government of Kazakhstan. To date, in collaboration with the Institute of Zoology of Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan, UNDP has conducted research to determine potential areas of habitat for the snow leopard population and its food base. The work is being carried out across the mountain ranges, which are a usual habitat for this animal.
The amazing fact, that snow leopards were first found in Kazakhstan’s Jambyl region and Altyn Emel National Park. It was early 2020 when the snow leopard’s presence was first confirmed in those places. The animal was captured by camera-traps, donated by Global Environment Fund project in Kazakhstan. In total, 294 camera-traps and special equipment were purchased to create a stable base for monitoring the snow leopard and its food supply. They help to obtain the most reliable information on wild animals and ecosystems.
Protection of the snow leopard population in Republic of Kazakhstan, as a rare and endangered species, is particularly important for the country's biodiversity. Lastly, conservation of biological diversity and valuable ecosystems does reflect the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals institute (SDGs) – promoting the rational use and stopping the loss of biological diversity, as well as protecting and restoring land systems.


Task1 Read the text again and answer the questions: 1. What is the usual place for living of the snow leopards? 2. How do people know about the living of the snow leopards in Kazakhstan’s Jambyl region and Altyn Emel National Park? 3.What does the conservation of snow leopards mean? 4. What are the main objectives of SDGs institute?