Snow leopards in Russia’s Altaï Mountains have made some unlikely friends: former poachers who now track them to photograph, rather than to kill.
These poachers-turned-photographers were convinced to give up hunting in 2014, when the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) set up a conservation program to protect the region’s remaining big cats. Instead of killing endangered snow leopards to survive, they would receive a payment for each photograph of one caught by an automatic camera.
Mergen Markov, one of the six ex-poachers who now works to protect their former targets, discussed the joys of the job in a BBC interview: “I am really happy I have this job which allows me to spend all this time outside and to admire all the animals that I manage to photograph with cameras like this one.”
Poaching became popular in the Altaï Mountains during the 1990s due to the scarcity of jobs and lack of government assistance programs, like unemployment benefits. The poachers killed the snow leopards mainly for their meat, which fed their struggling families, but they also sold the pelts for extra money. Within two decades, most of the region’s snow leopards had fled or been killed.
In addition to employing the former poachers, funding from the project is used to equip a group of volunteers that helps patrol the area.
Illegal poaching still occurs in the Altaï Mountains, and whether the snow leopard population has started to recover remains to be determined. However, projects such as this, along with the introduction of harsher jail sentences of up to seven years, provide much-needed hope for the future of the endangered cats.
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We need to come up with more creative ways to stop poaching. What a great program. Kudos to those who came up with it!
SHOOT WITH THE CAMERA AND THAT WOULD MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY FOR A LONG TIME TO COME. or perhaps even the generations to come by…
I hope you all will come forward & ask the other hunters to STOP murdering such valuable beautiful animals totally unnecessarily & heinously.
Let’s make this world a wonderful place to live in peace
I wish all poachers would make the same turn as these former poachers. Thanks to all of you for saving lives instead of taking them.
glad poachers are shooting pictures now
This is much better and doesn’t harm any animals…The beautiful photos can be sold to people who appreciate seeing animals alive in the wild!
THERE MUST BE A LAW WORLD WIDE TO STOP ALL ANIMAL POACHING. PEOPLE WORLD WIDE MUST DEMAND IT! PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO STOP ANIMAL POACHING & KILLING. PLEASE.
Does provide hope!
im so happy to hear this.
So happy to hear that, I hope all nations follow suit and quit hunting animals for whatever reason.
Many Kudos to the folks who traded poaching for filming. These exquisite creatures just may have received a lifetime of freedom from potential extinction. FABULOUS to know this dramatic change in attitude!
Thank you ! I am sad for the killings of past leopards, but any change in human to stop their killings of animals is a step forward for animals and mankind. I wish it would not take this long.
I am happy the proacher have changed and stop killing the Leopards. Thank you – enjoy your cameras ! I am sad for the killing of past leopards, but any change in humans that stop their killing of future animals is a step forward for the animals and mankind wellbeing.
good news for once!!
I’m glad to see former abusers of animals,and killers,have choosen to live in peace w thier former prey…I take heart from this story that’s theres still hope for humanity…
I could never kill such a majestic animal….or any animal for that matter,all life is precious and as Humans,being blessed w a higher understanding, we should take seriously our duty as caretakers of the natural world…because if we continue to destroy it we will destroy ourselves as well
Lord Jesus help us to see it
AMEN
Great !!These photographs hunters must also be the leopards guards, bcz PROTECTING THE ANIMAL THEY PROTECT THEIR JOB! Those pictures SHOULD MAKE GREAT POSTAL CARDS!!!👍👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏
I am glad that they have amended their ways but am.sad for the Snow Leopards they killed. 🐆
Hunting and killing these amazing cats is so counter-intuitive to anyone who admires their awesome beauty.
I met one face to face at a sanctuary, and it still brings tears to my eyes. So, so beautiful. And so intelligent.
Un-do the Karma you earned. Please tell everyone to see Snow Leopards in a different light – not to be hunted.
Make it you life’s work to see these cats stay alive, and thrive. Thank you for changing your ways.
We can not afford to lose even one more of these critically endangered animals.
I hope they make a lot of money from these pictures how about a Calender
I’d buy one for sure!
I hope they make a lot of money from these pictures hoa a bout a Calender
such a beautiful cat! I love his tail!!
Now tell all your associates, friends & people you know to do the same, shoot with their cameras !!!! Now that would be great.
Awesome!!!
What a great idea! These are beautiful animals. Wish they could be pets!
Well Done! We need more people like you. Thanks for turning things around.
I believe the despicable goons who killed Baby Bear Cubs while they were in their very own.
I would sentence these Bear killers to a minimum of 20 Damn years.