In honor of World Ranger Day, we are shining the spotlight on Munkhtenger Tumursukh, a wildlife ranger from Mongolia. He was recently lauded as the Best of the Best among rangers in snow leopard habitat for 2024 in a ceremony organized by Snow Leopard Conservation Foundation. He stood shoulder to shoulder with 19 other rangers hailing from across the country, all celebrated for their service and commitment to protecting the vast natural diversity of Mongolia.
Our recent discovery of 5 healthy cubs in two separate den sites in Mongolia’s Tost Mountains is another breakthrough moment for snow leopard science. Effective conservation depends on understanding the factors that drive population stability and growth. We use GPS collars and camera traps to monitor individual cats over many years, but these methods can’t capture the earliest stages of cub life. That’s why, when a rare occasion presents itself, our team conducts den visits using extreme care to minimize disturbance.
The adventure continues from base camp in Mongolia! Our scientists and Mongolian conservation team are back with more news from their successful field expedition. Below, Senior Scientist Örjan Johansson shares his personal email updates. Then find out what each collared animal has been up to as we unlock new insights about these elusive mountain creatures.
At Snow Leopard Trust, we’re privileged to work alongside brilliant researchers and students from around the world, each bringing unique perspectives to critical conservation challenges. Today’s post comes from Cecilia Di Bernardi, a postdoctoral researcher who joined our scientists in Mongolia for the spring field expedition.
Across Mongolia’s sweeping grasslands, an innovative conservation project is bringing communities closer to nature—one traveling trunk at a time. The Nomadic Trunk Project, launched in early 2024, pairs traditional Mongolian hospitality with modern conservation education to bridge the vast distances between nomadic households.
In the northern reaches of Mongolia, where the taiga forest meets rugged borderlands, ranger Boldbaatar’s exceptional vigilance has earned him recognition among his peers. His steadfast work combating illegal hunting and safeguarding the mountain home of an isolated snow leopard demonstrates how one dedicated guardian can make a difference.
Water is essential for all life—even for cats, despite their longstanding grievance towards it! All animals rely on water—a limited resource in the more arid parts of snow leopard habitat. During our long-term research study in the Gobi Desert, we’ve encountered multiple examples of the tight connection between cats and water.
A recent study led by our team in Mongolia examined the ecological relationship between snow leopards and the Eurasian lynx. These two species share habitat across large swaths of Asia, including southern Mongolia. Despite this overlap, little is known about their interactions.
On a dark August night in 2009, a tiny snow leopard cub and her sibling trailed behind their mother through the rocky Tost mountains of Mongolia. Unbeknownst to them, they triggered one of our motion-sensor research cameras, which captured the image above. That moment was the beginning of a lifelong relationship with perhaps the most well-known and beloved snow leopard in our long-running scientific study.
While you go about your daily life, something remarkable is unfolding in the rugged peaks of Mongolia: motion-triggered research cameras are capturing extraordinary moments in the lives of Earth’s most elusive big cat. These secret “selfies” of wild snow leopards aren’t just incredible images – they’re vital pieces of a complex conservation puzzle.
