Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- For the first time in history, a group of 4 snow leopards was spotted on the territory of the Gissar Nature Reserve in Kashkadarya region. The rare migrating animals were recorded by a camera trap installed by employees of the reserve of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change in the reserve area.

The snow leopard is included in the IUCN Red List and the Red Book of Uzbekistan as a locally widespread and critically endangered subspecies. Let us remind you that from December 11 of this year, liability for poaching Red Book animals has been tightened, according to which illegal hunting of snow leopards will result in a fine of 3,000 BRV (1 billion 20 million soums).

According to the autumn census, about 50-52 snow leopards live in the Gissar Nature Reserve. It is noteworthy that the snow leopard today is the only living member of the cat family that lives exclusively in cold climates.

In addition to the fact that the image of a snow leopard adorns the main entrance of the Sher-Dor Madrasah, located on Registan Square, and the national banknote, the mighty cat is also chosen as a symbol of the upcoming global event in Samarkand from 12 to 17 February 2024 - the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals ( CMS COP14).