The snow leopard, known as the "king of the high mountains," inhabits all seven regions of Kyrgyzstan, as reported by Almaz Musaev, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, in an interview with the Kabar agency. According to him, this animal prefers mountainous areas and cannot exist in other conditions. "The snow leopard is resistant to cold and prefers altitude, unlike hot climates," he noted.
Musaev added that leopards inhabit 12 countries around the world, but in Kyrgyzstan, they are found in all regions, making the country unique in this aspect. "In other countries, such as China, leopards are not widespread and are only found in border areas with Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan," he explained.
Recently, there has been a trend of snow leopards beginning to descend to lower levels, and there are several explanations for this phenomenon. Musaev reported that "it was previously rare to see a leopard, but now they have even started to enter populated areas."
One reason for this change may be the aging of the animals. "As they age, they lose their teeth, making it difficult to hunt large prey, and they are forced to look for smaller livestock or other quarry," Musaev said.
Additionally, leopards may descend in search of a mate for reproduction or change territory depending on population density. "The fact that leopards are living to old age is a positive indicator, as it suggests they are not being hunted and are reaching their natural lifespan," he added.
Although snow leopards rarely attack humans, they can show aggression if they feel threatened. "We must be prepared for these animals to encounter us more frequently," Musaev concluded.
