On this day, ecological and educational events promoting the conservation of the snow leopard and its ecosystems are held in many countries around the world.

The snow leopard, also known as the ounce or irbis, is a large predatory mammal of the cat family that inhabits the mountains of Central Asia. It is the only living member of its family that exclusively resides in cold climates. The snow leopard is a locally distributed subspecies and is on the brink of extinction. It is listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan and the IUCN Red List.

Significantly, this animal has been chosen as the symbol for the upcoming 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14), which will take place for the first time in the historic city of Samarkand from February 12th to 17th, 2024.

The logo of CMS COP14 features a winged snow leopard adorned with a pattern reminiscent of the famous lapis lazuli tile of Central Asian monuments. It is worth noting that the snow leopard is one of the keystone species of biodiversity in Uzbekistan, with its range spanning across 12 countries. The mighty and elusive big cat is also a legendary symbol of Samarkand, widely represented throughout the country, from the magnificent entrance of the historic Sher-Dor madrasa to the national banknotes of Uzbekistan.

Concern has arisen due to the steady decline in the population of this predator in recent decades. Today, there are only 2,700-3,300 individuals of the snow leopard in the wild (Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species). Currently, the estimated total number of snow leopards in Uzbekistan ranges from 30-50 to 80-120 individuals. In the Western Tien Shan, according to expert estimates, there are between 10-15 and 30-40 snow leopards, and in the Pamir-Alai region, there are between 20-30 and 50-80 snow leopards.

Hunting of the snow leopard is strictly prohibited. It is protected in the Hisor, Zaamin, Chatkal nature reserves, and the Ugam-Chatkal National Park. It is listed in Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).