Reviewing the past year and a look forward to 2022

Snow leopard on the prowl. Photo by Snow Leopard Conservancy

Here we are, nearing the end of December, and it’s time to review another challenging year and look forward to 2022. We all thought 2021 was going to be the year when we could say “post-pandemic”, didn’t we?! Once again, we are so grateful to our donors and funders for their support. You have been…

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Altai’s Indigenous peoples – what’s in a name?

Chaga-Bayram Altaian winter new year ceremony (Photo by M. Erlenbaeva)

Russia officially recognizes 47 small-numbered peoples of the North, Siberia, and Far East. Roughly 23% of the almost 147 million people living in Russia (as of 2021) are not ethnically Russian.  The government classifies Indigenous peoples living in the country in three ways: “Small-numbered peoples” (less than 50,000 individuals), “Indigenous peoples” living in the North,…

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Snow Leopard conservation in Russia: a timeline

Two snow leopard kittens tumbling playfully on a rocky slope

The Altai Project has invested more than $210,000 in snow leopard conservation in Russia to date (largely 2010-2015, but continuing today). We pooled expertise with other international institutions involved in protecting this big cat. To expand on the saying “many hands make light work,” many hands also strengthen the work by contributing funds, scientific and…

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Snow Leopard Conservation

The Snow leopard is endangered across its entire range in Central Asia, including in Russia. Snow leopard conservation and science are important tools in saving the species.

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Happy 150th birthday to Grigory Choros-Gurkin!

For every Picasso and Rembrandt, there are many more lesser-known artists; this is the case with Grigoriy Choros-Gurkin (1870-1937). He is one of Altai’s greatest artists and most important cultural figures.  The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of Choros-Gurkin’s birth and an ideal time to draw attention to the man and his work. Regarded…

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