After working for a wildlife scientist during the 1980s, Bayarjargal Agvaantseren became determined to save endangered big cats.
Due to poaching and habitat loss, the big cat population in southern Mongolia is dwindling. Farmers who were adamant about protecting their livestock victimized some of these cats, namely snow leopards.
Agvaantseren’s first major accomplishment was the creation of a livestock insurance program for local herders.
“Once local people’s loss was compensated, their attitude changed,” said Agvaantseren. “They didn’t see the snow leopard as an enemy anymore.”
In 2009, she learned that a portion of the South Gobi Desert that serves as critical habitat for snow leopards was to undergo extensive mining operations. The local population quickly got on board with her campaign to stop the mining and to protect the snow leopards.
In 2016, the 1.8 million-acre region became the Tost Tosonbumba Nature Reserve. It’s the country’s first federally protected area for snow leopard conservation and is home to some of the 1,000 rare snow leopards in southern Mongolia.
Agvaantseren also persuaded the government to drop 37 mining licenses and ban future mining permits on the land.
The 49-year-old former schoolteacher was recently recognized for her dedicated conservation efforts with the 2019 Goldman Environmental Prize for Asia.
Thanks to this hero, a magnificent species has a renewed chance to thrive.

Smiling at the little goat. Such a happy girl and wbat a beautiful fami!y!
Firmado!!!!!!!!!!
Bless you for helping these beautiful cats. Keep up the good work, they need you and more like you.
Dear Ms.Agvaansteren: Thank you for all your efforts to save the big cats much appreciated.
Take care Coreen
You are the best. Thank you
Thank you so much to save snow leopards.
Thank You
Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou. 🐅🐅
A very big thank you!
Thank you, Ms. Agvaantseren!
Thank you, Ms. Agvaantseren!
Just shows what one determined person can do. God bless her.
3 cheers, a red star and a gold tick for this lady.
I applaud Bayarjargal Agvaantseren for her unique and heroic courage and vision in her campaign to protect the beautiful and rare snow leopards.
Thank you for helping save the snow leopard! You are a true hero for animals.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE AND ARE DOING. YOUR A HERO🌟
NAMASTE🐦
Poaching must be punishable by the full extent of the law!
Congratulations, Ms. Agvaantseren! You are a gem for Mongolia, as well as the rest of the world. We need more selfless individuals, such as you, to become activists.
Thank you ! Thank you for helping to save the rare snow leopards!
Agvaantseren, YOU are a hero to many of the Snow leopards in Mongolia. Your dedication & commitment to save these magnificent Snow Leopards in these Southern parts of Mongolia is PRICELESS. We need intelligent, educated & Compassionate people like you everywhere in this world, to protect & preserve the Beautiful Nature the God has given to flourish the Planet earth.
Bravo!