Observing snow leopards has become an important aspect of ecotourism in many countries, such as India, Mongolia, China, and Pakistan. Inspired by this practice, the Snow Leopard Foundation in Kyrgyzstan, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), successfully implemented the project "Snow Leopard Tours - A Key to Preserving Local Nature" in 2023.
According to information from the UN News Service, this project has laid the foundation for developing ethical tourism in the Sarychat-Eertash Reserve. During the project's implementation, training workshops were organized for rangers and local residents, and necessary equipment was purchased: tents, yurts, solar stations, and pack bags. These measures allowed for the creation of comfortable and environmentally friendly conditions for wildlife observation.
The tours take place from mid-autumn to the end of winter. After the project concluded, around 10-12 groups, totaling approximately 60-70 people, visited the reserve over two seasons, including locations such as the Zhangaart and Ak-Shyyrak areas.
As emphasized by Kubanychbek Jumabaev, director of the Snow Leopard Foundation in Kyrgyzstan, "In our snow leopard tours, we consider the capacity of the reserve and the surrounding nature. The maximum number of participants in a group does not exceed six people, and we ensure that there are no simultaneous groups present in the reserve."
Starting in 2025, each tour participant will contribute $100 to the local community's conservation fund. These funds will be used to support rangers, develop infrastructure, and promote nature conservation.
It is expected that with a steady flow of tourists, this contribution could reach $7,000 per year, which would be significant support for remote regions of the country.
The income from each tour ranges from $3,000 to $4,000, with all services provided exclusively by local residents: rangers, guides, cooks, and guesthouse owners.
It is important to note that the excursions focus on careful observation of wildlife in their natural habitat. Tourists strive to capture rare moments involving snow leopards and other predators, such as wolves, bears, manuls, and large scavengers. Previously considered "harmful," wolves and foxes have now become attractive subjects for observation.
Thanks to the excursions, the reserve has improved its infrastructure and raised the level of service. Rangers and local guides have become more experienced, and statistics show that the probability of seeing a snow leopard during a tour has reached 90 percent — a unique figure even by global standards.
