Abstract: The most vulnerable key areas within the snow leopard habitat are East Kazakhstan (an area of 48,000 square km) with no protected areas network established, and South Siberia (131,000 square km), where snow leopard is protected in three nature reserves. These areas are distant from main part of the habitat, isolated and have more extreme conditions. In Central Asia's key area (213,000 square km) linked to a main Chinese-Afghani part of the habitat, snow leopard was found in 11 nature reserves and two national parks. For reliable protection of this species it would be expedient to strengthen the role of the mountain nature reserves by means of extension and amalgamation of the areas, and other measures.

Abstract: After the inventory of all rare and endangered species the categories of threat in the Red Data Book of eastern Kazakhstan has changed for most of the species: 24 species were referred to category 1 (endangered species) (in Kazakhstan's Red Data Book 14 species); 26 (14) species to category 2 (decreasing species); 11 (24) to category 3 (rare); and 1 (3) to category 5 (rehabilitated). There are three nature reserves in the region: Markakol, West Alatai, and Alakol to protect wild vertebrate animals.