India Highlights Science-Based Snow Leopard Conservation at Russia-India Roundtable
Moscow, August 26, 2026: India highlighted its growing use of scientific tools for snow leopard conservation at the Russia-India Roundtable Meeting on Snow Leopard Study and Conservation held in Moscow on August 26.
The meeting focused on strengthening international cooperation in snow leopard research, monitoring and conservation, with India presenting its progress in areas including population estimation, radio telemetry and genetic analysis.
The roundtable was organised at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences under a partnership between the Interregional Association ‘Irbis’ and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).
India Highlights Scientific Approach to Conservation
A delegation from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) outlined India’s efforts to adopt science-based approaches for monitoring and conserving snow leopards.
Officials from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) highlighted developments in snow leopard population estimation, radio telemetry and genetic analysis. These scientific methods are increasingly being used to improve understanding of the species and support conservation planning.
The discussions also underlined the importance of scientific monitoring in assessing snow leopard populations and strengthening conservation measures.
Russia-India Cooperation on Snow Leopard Research
The Moscow meeting brought together representatives and experts from several organisations, including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow Zoo and Rosprirodnadzor.
Researchers and conservation experts also participated in discussions on advancing collaborative approaches to the scientific study and protection of snow leopards.
The partnership between the Interregional Association ‘Irbis’ and IBCA dates back to December 2025, when the two organisations signed an agreement aimed at strengthening international cooperation in snow leopard research and conservation.
Focus on Knowledge and Scientific Expertise
The Indian delegation took part in thematic discussions covering ways to strengthen collaboration in snow leopard research and conservation.
The roundtable provided an opportunity for India and its international partners to exchange knowledge, field experience and scientific expertise related to snow leopard monitoring.
The meeting also highlighted the role of international cooperation in developing stronger scientific approaches for understanding and conserving the species across its range.
