Abstract: 50 mammal species permanently live in the nature reserve. There penetrate snow leopard, wolf, corsac, and wild boar on a relatively regular basis. Moral, roe deer, and elk migrate outside the Markakol depression in winter. Though mentioned in literature as species inhabiting the nature reserve, beaver, stone marten, and dhole are not met there today.

Abstract: Reasons for ibex and argali mortality from natural enemies, parasites, infections, accidents, and hunters are analyzed. Snow leopard is one of the most dangerous enemies of ibex and argali, preying equally on both young and mature animals (mostly males). Snow leopard feeds upon ibex all year round. Unlike wolf, snow leopard would never kill several animals at a time, but only one selected victim. The food remains left by these predators are different in terms of the skull gnawing. Nasal bones and eye-sockets on the skull of ibex killed by snow leopard remain undamaged, while wolf gnaws off nasal part of the skull, breaks eye-sockets, eats lower jaw, widens occipital hole and pulls out brains. Snow leopard leaves large pieces of skin around the skeleton of the victim, whereas wolf tears it to shreds or eats up fully. Sometimes parts of the victim left by snow leopard are eaten by wolf. It is easy to mix the remains of snow leopard's or griffon vulture's food. The remains differ in skin being turned inside out rather than torn to large pieces.

Abstract: A high percentage of rare species in Central Asia experience limited conditions for distribution. Geographic centers with higher species diversity are generally constrained in terms of territory: they are formed when ranges overlap. But in Central Asia and along its borders with Russia, centers of biodiversity overlap at the very marginal edges of ranges. Central Asian species cross into Russian territory, where desert and steppe are replaced by thick forest. Here the northern borders of their ranges are sharply fragmented and isolated. Typical examples for Central Asia are the ranges of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), Asian leopard (Panthera pardus caucasica), striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), Bukhara deer (Census elaphus bactrianus), markhor (Capra falconeri), blue sheep (Pseudois nayauf) and argali (Ovis ammon). In Russia are the Altai subspecies of argali, the Siberian argali (O.a.ammon), the mountain goat (Capra sibirica), Mongolian gazelle (Procapra gutturosa), snow leopard (Uncia uncia), Pallas' cat (Felis manul), dhole (Cuon alpinus), grey marmot (Marmota baibacina), Mongolian marmot (M. sibirica) and tolai hare (Lepus tolai). Where the numbers o f individuals has fallen to extreme lows, the most effective mechanism for species survival may be supporting the integrity of ranges, in order to preserve population exchanges between neighboring groups. The geographic location of reserves and other protected territories is vitally important for the survival of Central Asian species, given the acute fragmentation of their ranges. These reserves should include significant, viable centers of population the key places. Wherever the creation of permanent protected territories is impossible, a new tactic must be found, such as introducing temporary limitations on the use of land for agriculture and hunting. But all protected territories, whether temporary or permanent, should be connected, forming a core and periphery. The marginal range areas must not be forgotten, if total protection of endangered populations is to be accomplished.

Abstract: The Red Data Book of the USSR includes 111 mammal species and 67 bird species. The following species inhabit or from time to time come into Kyrgyzstan: free-toiled bat, Menzbier's marmot, red dog, Tien Shan brown bear, marbled polecat, Central Asia otter, Turkistan lynx, manul, snow leopard, antelope, Tien-Shan wild sheep, and bison; Dalmatian pelican, rose pelican, black stork, flamingo, bar-headed goose, white-headed duck, osprey, short-toed eagle, tawny eagle, imperial eagle, golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, Pallas's sea eagle, bearded vulture, Himallayan griffon, Sociable plover, Saker falcon, Peregrine falcon, great bustard, houbara, little bustard, etc.

Abstract: Snow leopard preservation efforts by Russian biologist Eugene Koshkarev are hampered by the lack of technology and the attitudes of the local population. Without access to radio-collars until recently, the biologists have had to use low-tech research methods such as field observation. The chabani, or semi-nomadic herders of Central Asia, fear the leopards as predators and set traps. Local governments also allow hunting