Abstract: The number of large cats is reducing. These animals are hold out in the most difficult of access places. During long time snow leopard was a poorly known animal. The situation was changed with developing of mountain tourism and mountaineering. It's necessary to reduce the capturing snow leopards for zoological gardens.

Abstract: The author provides description of fauna of Kazakhstan's mountainous areas. Fauna of the mountain taiga is also typical for the forests of South Siberia. Ungulate species such as musk deer and ibex are common for rocky taiga areas. In the Altai, ibex, musk deer, and wild sheep are preyed on by dhole and snow leopard and more typical species such as glutton and wolf. Ibex, argali, and irbis are typical for Transili Ala-Tau and West Tien Shan. Tien Shan is the only area of the USSR with quite many irbis preserved. The ridges of this mountainous area located in Kazakhstan are very likely to be an area the most densely populated by snow leopards within the predator's habitat.

Abstract: Evidence of snow leopard presence was most abundant in C Ladakh, decreased southward toward the crest of the Himalaya, and was least on the S side of the main Himalaya. Prey populations, primarily blue sheep Pseudois nayaur and Asiatic ibex Capra ibex, were also more plentiful in the areas surveyed to the N of the main Himalaya. Perhaps 400 snow leopard occur throughout NW India. The stronghold of this species in India is apparently the trans- Himalayan ranges in Ladakh where new parks and reserves are being established, some in association with a snow leopard recovery programme of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and a 'Project Snow Leopard' of the central Indian government. Because of the generally low density of snow leopard, conservation measures must also be considered within the large areas of its range lying outside parks and reserves. -from Authors

Abstract: The Dashti-Djum nature reserve is suggested to be established in an area of the Darvaza and Khazratishah ridges a habitat of markhor, ibex, long-tailed marmot, etc. Snow leopard and brawn bear are also found at some parts of the planned nature reserve.

Abstract: It describes genus and species features of snow leopard such as appearance, skull, sizes, phylogenetic links, distribution, geographic variability, biology including number, habitat, refuges, activity in daylight and night, behavioral patterns, reproduction, enemies and rivals, and practical use of the species.

Abstract: In winter, some seven to 14 snow leopards come into the nature reserve “Ramit” when chasing ibex within their winter habitats. The nature reserve is yet the only remaining place for ibexes to winter in eastern part of the Gissar ridge. Some 150 200 ibexes winter in the nature reserve. The nature reserve should be extended towards highlands in order to protect snow leopards.

Abstract: Snow leopard is rare and endangered species. At present it is met in Tien Shan and the spurs: in the ridges of Pskem, Ugam, Karjantau, Talas, Kyrgyz, Zailiyskiy, Ketmene, Kungei Alatau, Terskey Alatau, as well as Jungar Alatau, Tarbagatai, Saure, and Altai. In 19th century, snow leopard used to be met in the Karatau ridge (the Syrdarya ridge). Over the last two decades population of snow leopard reduced due to increased development of mountainous areas and reduction of wild animal populations (ibex, argali, morals, marmots, etc.). In Kazakhstan, snow leopard is protected in the Aksu-Djabagly and Alma-Ata nature reserves.

Abstract: An extraction and assay procedure to measure fecal estradiol-17-beta and progestin concentrations in several cat species was developed and validated for use for noninvasive monitoring of ovarian function. Fecal samples were collected over a range of 3-20 months from female tigers (three), lions (three), snow leopards (three), cheetahs (two), caracals (two), and domestic cats (five). Samples were extracted with 90% methanol, lipids removed with petroleum ether, and the estradiol and progestins in the methanol measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) fractionation and subsequent RIA of the fractions indicated that the estradiol-17-beta antiserum cross-reacted primarily with estradiol-17-beta in the feces of lions and tigers and was assumed to be specific for estradiol-17-beta in the feces of other species as well. However, there were several immunoreactive compounds, presumably progesterone metabolites, excreted in the feces which varied both quantitatively and qualitatively among species. The behavior of tigers, lions, cheetahs, and caracals was visually monitored during the collection period and frequency of sexual behaviors was positively correlated with increases in fecal estradiol in all species observed. The mean fecal estradiol-17-beta peaks were as follows: tigers, 128.0 +- 13.1; lions, 186.0 +- 14.8; snow leopards, 136.7 +- 15.9; cheetahs, 140.9 +- 9.0; caracals, 24.5 +- 4.0; and domestic cats 158.9 +- 19.3 ng/gm. Fecal progestin concentrations rose significantly (P lt 0,001) only after breeding or during pregnancy and were as follows: tigers, 5.6 +- 0.6; lions, 1.9 +- 0.1; cheetahs, 8.4 +- 1.1; and caracals, 2.4 +- 0.4 mu-g/gm. Fecal progestins were elevated for one-half to two-thirds of the gestation length during presumed pseudopregnancy but remained elevated throughout successful pregnancies. These results suggest that ovarian function can be monitored noninvasively in the family Felidae by the measurement of fecal estradiol-17-beta and progestin concentrations.