On the Hunt to Save a Species

But snow leopards are incredibly shy creatures that avoid areas where humans tend to go. After two years, the scientists had only a handful of clear images—hardly enough data to study the animals.

Markov, however, knew exactly how to get the shots they needed. In no time, he had captured stunning images of a snow leopard previously unknown to the scientists—and her two cubs! 

What made Markov such an expert on snow leopards? How could he predict the movements and behaviors of such an elusive species better than the scientists?

The answer is simple. Markov used to hunt the animals—illegally.

Markov is a former snow leopard poacher who has lived in the Altai Republic his entire life. He is part of an innovative WWF effort that offers illegal hunters the opportunity to protect the animals they once preyed on.

Today, Markov is a “snow leopard guard” and one of the most trusted members of the program. In addition to snapping pictures of the animals, he patrols their habitat and helps educate members of his village about the importance of preserving the species. What’s more, the wildlife organization pays him for his efforts. That’s key, experts say, because many hunters turn to poaching out of desperation. There are often few jobs where they live.

Thanks to the program, snow leopards in the region are now thriving, and no one is happier about that than Markov.

“Snow leopards are so beautiful,” he says. “We share the land. We share the mountains. I don’t want to hurt them anymore.” 

But snow leopards are incredibly shy creatures. They avoid areas where humans tend to go. After two years, the scientists had only a handful of clear images. It was hardly enough data to study the animals.

But Markov knew exactly how to get the shots they needed. In no time, he had captured stunning images of a snow leopard previously unknown to the scientists—and her two cubs!

What made Markov such an expert on snow leopards? How could he predict the movements and behaviors of such an elusive species better than the scientists?

The answer is simple. Markov used to hunt the animals illegally.

Markov is a former snow leopard poacher. He has lived in the Altai Republic his entire life. He is part of an innovative WWF effort that offers illegal hunters the opportunity to protect the animals they once preyed on.

Today, Markov is a “snow leopard guard” and one of the program’s most trusted members. He does not just snap pictures. He also patrols the animals’ habitat. He helps educate members of his village about the importance of preserving the species. And the wildlife organization pays him for his efforts. Experts say that is key because many hunters turn to poaching out of desperation. There are often few jobs where they live.

Thanks to the program, snow leopards in the region are now thriving. No one is happier about that than Markov.

“Snow leopards are so beautiful,” he says. “We share the land. We share the mountains. I don’t want to hurt them anymore.”

Poaching in Russia began to increase in the early 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a huge country in Eastern Europe and Asia.

In the years to follow, Russia (which used to be part of the Soviet Union) was plagued by corruption and crime. The country’s economy suffered and prices for food soared.

With unemployment increasing, many hunters in poverty-stricken villages of the Altai Republic turned to poaching to make a living. 

Poaching in Russia began to increase in the early 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a huge country in Eastern Europe and Asia.

In the years to follow, Russia (the largest of the former Soviet states) was plagued by corruption and crime. The country’s economy suffered. Prices for food soared.

Unemployment was increasing. So many hunters in poverty-stricken villages of the Altai Republic turned to poaching to make a living.

That was the case for Markov. After serving in the Russian army, he returned home to the tiny village of Argut in the early 2000s. 

“I couldn’t find a job,” he says. “People had to feed their families. Some people from outside the village offered good money for [snow leopard pelts]. How could I refuse?”

Markov’s first name means “hunter” in Altai, the language of his region’s Indigenous people. He learned how to track and kill snow leopards from his father, who was also a poacher. As Markov and other poachers covered the countryside with snare traps, snow leopards were rapidly being wiped out in the Altai Mountains. 

Traditional antipoaching methods such as policing weren’t working, in part because the region is so large.

“It became clear that strict patrolling brings temporary results,” says Alexander Karnaukhov, a project coordinator with WWF Russia. “To make conservation sustainable and fight poaching in the long [run], we needed to change the attitude of the local people.”

That was the case for Markov. After serving in the Russian army, he returned home to the tiny village of Argut in the early 2000s.

“I couldn’t find a job,” he says. “People had to feed their families. Some people from outside the village offered good money for [snow leopard pelts]. How could I refuse?”

Markov’s first name means “hunter” in Altai. That is the language of his region’s Indigenous people. He learned how to track and kill snow leopards from his father, who was also a poacher. Markov and other poachers were covering the countryside with snare traps. And snow leopards were rapidly being wiped out in the Altai Mountains.

Traditional antipoaching methods such as policing were not working. That is in part because the region is so large.

“It became clear that strict patrolling brings temporary results,” says Alexander Karnaukhov. He is a project coordinator with WWF Russia. “To make conservation sustainable and fight poaching in the long [run], we needed to change the attitude of the local people.”

As a first step toward saving snow leopards in the Altai Republic, conservationists helped designate a protected area for the animals in 2010. Called Sailugemsky National Park, the mountain region is about the size of Los Angeles, California. 

Shortly thereafter, scientists began setting camera traps throughout the park to monitor the animals, but they soon realized they needed help. That’s when a WWF scientist suggested they persuade poachers to join their efforts.

“Local hunters are perfectly aware of the animals’ tracks and can define the snow leopards’ routes better than the scientists,” Karnaukhov says.

It’s an approach that has helped other species. Similar programs elsewhere in the world train former poachers to protect various at-risk animals (see sidebar, below).

As a first step toward saving snow leopards in the Altai Republic, conservationists helped designate a protected area for the animals in 2010. That mountain region is about the size of Los Angeles, California. It is called Sailugemsky National Park.

Shortly thereafter, scientists began setting camera traps throughout the park to monitor the animals. But they soon realized they needed help. That is when a WWF scientist suggested they persuade poachers to join their efforts.

“Local hunters are perfectly aware of the animals’ tracks and can define the snow leopards’ routes better than the scientists,” Karnaukhov says.

It is an approach that has helped other species. Similar programs elsewhere in the world train former poachers to protect various at-risk animals (see sidebar, below).

Markov was one of the first poachers the WWF contacted. Part of the challenge for the experts was gaining the trust of the hunters and convincing them that snow leopards need protection. For many Altai villagers, hunting has been their way of life for years. They often view the big cats no differently from animals that are legal to hunt, such as deer. But over time, the scientists formed a dedicated team willing to trade in its snare traps for camera traps.

Today, eight former poachers are working as snow leopard guards for the WWF. Upon completing their training, the men venture into Sailugemsky park, where they set up their camera traps. Then they deliver the images to the scientists.

Markov was one of the first poachers the WWF contacted. Part of the challenge for the experts was gaining the trust of the hunters and convincing them that snow leopards need protection. For many Altai villagers, hunting has been their way of life for years. They often view the big cats no differently from animals that are legal to hunt, such as deer. But over time, the scientists formed a dedicated team of local people willing to trade in their snare traps for camera traps.

Today, eight former poachers are working as snow leopard guards for the WWF. Upon completing their training, the men venture into Sailugemsky park. They set up camera traps. Then they deliver the images to the scientists.

For every image of a snow leopard Markov captures, he receives a payment of about $600—the value of one pelt. If, after one year, that same animal is still appearing in his pictures—meaning it’s still alive—he receives a bonus. To further supplement his income, the WWF hires him as a guide for other projects in the region and rents his horses. 

Markov—who uses the money he earns to support his wife and daughter—still considers himself a hunter, just a different kind of hunter.

“When I open the camera,” he says, “I’m eager to see what I caught.”

For every image of a snow leopard Markov captures, he receives a payment of about $600. That is the value of one pelt. If, after one year, that same animal is still appearing in his pictures, that means it is still alive. So he receives a bonus. To further supplement his income, the WWF hires him as a guide for other projects in the region and rents his horses.

Markov uses the money he earns to support his wife and daughter. He still considers himself a hunter, just a different kind of hunter.

“When I open the camera,” he says, “I’m eager to see what I caught.”

This year alone, Markov and the other guards have taken hundreds of snow leopard pictures with about 30 camera traps set up throughout Sailugemsky park. The images show everything from adults scratching in the ground to mark their territory to cubs playfully tussling in the snow.

The photos are helping scientists gain a better understanding of snow leopards. And thanks to the former hunters’ other duty of patrolling the region, poaching has decreased in the area—while the number of snow leopards has increased!

Today, 15 of the big cats are under protection in Sailugemsky park. That’s up from as few as two of the animals when the protected area was first established. Snow leopard numbers are also increasing across the Altai Republic as a whole.

With this momentum, the WWF plans to recruit snow leopard poachers in other parts of Russia to join its conservation efforts. At the same time, Russian officials are looking into ways to increase job opportunities for people who live in snow leopard habitats so they don’t turn to poaching in the first place.

This year alone, cameras placed by Markov and the other guards have taken hundreds of snow leopard pictures. The guards have used about 30 camera traps throughout Sailugemsky park. The images show everything from adults scratching in the ground to mark their territory to cubs playfully tussling in the snow.

The photos are helping scientists gain a better understanding of snow leopards. And thanks to the former hunters’ other duty of patrolling the region, poaching has decreased in the area. Meanwhile, the number of snow leopards has increased!

Today, 15 of the big cats are under protection in Sailugemsky park. That is up from as few as two of the animals when the protected area was first established. Snow leopard numbers are also increasing across the Altai Republic as a whole.

With this momentum, the WWF plans to recruit snow leopard poachers in other parts of Russia to join its conservation efforts. At the same time, Russian officials are looking into ways to increase job opportunities for people who live in snow leopard habitats so they do not turn to poaching in the first place.

Meanwhile, one of the main goals of the program has been to get local residents to see snow leopards as worth saving. The camera trap images are helping with that mission. Many of Markov’s neighbors—people who live close to snow leopards but have rarely seen one in person—now line up to view his pictures.

Today, the former poacher has an appreciation for snow leopards that goes beyond earning a paycheck. He says one of the best parts of his job is that his daughter takes pride in what he does for a living.

“My daughter likes what I do,” he says. “She likes hearing stories about my snow leopard expeditions. I [hope] that she can see a snow leopard in the wild one day.”

Meanwhile, one of the main goals of the program has been to get local residents to see snow leopards as worth saving. The camera trap images are helping with that mission. Many of Markov’s neighbors are people who live close to snow leopards but have rarely seen one in person. Now they line up to view his pictures.

Today, the former poacher has an appreciation for snow leopards that goes beyond earning a paycheck. He says one of the best parts of his job is that his daughter takes pride in what he does for a living.

“My daughter likes what I do,” he says. “She likes hearing stories about my snow leopard expeditions. I [hope] that she can see a snow leopard in the wild one day.”