Abstract: It provides field signs and brief comparative characteristic of cat species in Uzbekistan, five of which are included in the Red Data Book of Uzbekistan and the USSR: lynx, caracal, manul, snow leopard and cheetah. Snow leopard is protected in the Zaamin, Chatkal, and Gissar nature reserves. A snow leopard female bears up to five cubs (normally two three) once in two years. Gestation period is 90 days. Female suckles her cubs until they reach the age of three four months.

Abstract: It provides general information about the Hissar nature reserve (Uzbekistan), its physico-geographical features and description of flora and fauna. The following predator species inhabit the nature reserve: wolf, fox, Tien Shan brown bear (four five animals per 100 sq. km), ermine, weasel, stone marten, otter, badger, lynx (two animals per 100 sq. km) and snow leopard (about 10 animals). Wild boar and ibex are common species for the area (22 25 animals per 100 sq. km).

Abstract: Kyrgyzstan is a land of towering mountains, glaciers, rushing streams, wildflowercovered meadows, forests, snow leopards, soaring eagles, and yurt-dwelling nomads. The entire nation lies astride the Tian Shan1, Chinese for “Heavenly Mountains”, one of the world's highest mountain ranges, which is 7439 m (24,400 ft) in elevation at its highest point. The nation is the second smallest of the former Soviet Central Asian republics. In
spite of Kyrgyzstan's diverse wildlife and stunning natural beauty, the nation remains little known, and, as yet, still on the frontier of international conservation efforts. The following report is the product of 12 months of research into the state of conservation and land-use in Kyrgyzstan. This effort was funded by the Fulbright Commission of the U.S. State Department, and represents the most recent findings of the author's personal environmental journey through Inner Asia, which began in 1999. When I first started my preliminary research for this project, I was extremely surprised to learn that, even though the Tian Shan Range has tremendous ecological significance for conservation efforts in middle Asia, there wasn't a single major international conservation organization with an office in the former Soviet Central Asian republics. Even more surprising was how little awareness there is of conservation issues in the Tian Shan region amongst conservation workers in neighboring areas who are attempting to preserve similar species assemblages and ecosystems to those found in the Tian Shan. Given this lack of awareness, and the great potential for the international community to make a positive contribution towards improving the current state of biodiversity conservation in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia, I have summarized my findings on protected areas and conservation in Kyrgyzstan and the Tian Shan of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Xinjiang in the chapters below. The report begins with some brief background information on geography and society in the Kyrgyz Republic, followed by an overview of biodiversity and the state of conservation in the nation, which at the present time closely parallels the state of conservation in the other former Soviet Central Asian republics. Part IV of the report provides a catalog of all major protected areas in Kyrgyzstan and the other Tian Shan nations, followed by a list of sites in Kyrgyzstan that are as yet unprotected but merit protection. In the appendices the reader will find fairly comprehensive species lists of flora and fauna found in the Kyrgyz Republic, including lists of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, trees and shrubs, wildflowers, and endemic plants. In addition, a
draft paper on the history and current practice of pastoral nomadism in Kyrgyzstan has been included in Appendix A. While the research emphasis for this study was on eastern Kyrgyzstan, over the course of the study the author did have the opportunity to make brief journeys to southern Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Xinjiang. While falling short of being a definitive survey of protected areas of the Tian Shan, the informational review which
follows is the first attempt at bringing the details of conservation efforts throughout the entire Tian Shan Range together in one place. It is hoped that this summary of biodiversity and conservation in the Tian Shan will generate interest in the region amongst conservationists, and help increase efforts to protect this surprisingly unknown range that forms an island of meadows, rivers, lakes, and forests in the arid heart of Asia.

Abstract: Method of questionnaire design is used for long time successfully in the various fields of zoological research. This method is most significant for the collecting of data on threatened species. It can be applied together with standard inquest and survey methods without taking remarkable financial and temporal expenses. Such data can be assigned as the base for further planning of scientific investigations of the threatened species. In the result of survey, there were gathered 96 records of Snow Leopard and its tracks of the vital functions on Ugam, Pskem, Chatkal, Turkestan and Hissar ridges. Majority of records was made on Hissar ridge either on the area of Hissar reserve, either outside of protected area. There was collected data on distribution of Snow Leopard in Uzbekistan, on its territorial and food behavior, cases and causes of poaching. As a conclusion, it seems to be rational to use the method of questionnaire design among rangers of protected areas and local inhabitants for the collecting of primary information on threatened animal species. It would be optimal to gather such data every 3-4 years that would allow receiving the fresh comparable year-by-year information. Interpretation of questionnaire data should be made with certain prudence, taking into account subjectivity of collected information. Therefore during gathering of questionnaire data it is desirable personal attendance of researcher for more accurate definition of answers on the presented questions.

Abstract: Presented is history of the Chatkal nature reserve's establishment, physic and geographic description, types of soils, climate, altitude zones, flora and fauna, historical monuments. Snow leopard is quiet rare species in nature reserve. Last years irbis's tracks and voice have been recorded in highly mountain sites of Maidantal part of Chatkal nature reserve.