BISHKEK (TCA) — International Network “Land of Snow Leopard” — which unites representatives of five regions that are snow leopard’s habitat (Mongolia, Altai and Buryatia Republics of the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan) — are taking part in the International Snow Leopard and its ecosystem Forum that is being held in Bishkek on August 24 and 25, the Rural Development Fund said in a press release.
The network “Land of Snow Leopard” was founded in 2013 during the first Forum on preserving snow leopard in Bishkek.
The network members try to link and set up collaboration between western science and knowledge on indigenous people, who inhabit mountainous regions and who have not lost their own traditions and culture of respectful attitude toward nature and wild animals. There are people in some areas who are still able to “receive” information from their ancestors – shamans, custodians of sacred places and Buddhist monks.
The efforts of the network members open the way for such people — the custodians of traditional culture — to participate in the Global Program on preserving snow leopard and its ecosystems. They are involved in conducting monitoring of the wild nature, collecting data in the form of oral stories shared by the residents of remote mountainous communities. While contributing to achieving goals of the Global Program this activity also takes into consideration the needs of local communities.
The network members apply new technologies for collecting data. The specifically designed application for smartphones and tablets allows filling in two surveys: on wild nature observation and poaching. The application has been translated into five languages to address the needs of conducting work in residence areas of the network members. It is now being tested in field conditions and local residents and shepherds are being trained on how to use the application.
For the indigenous cultures, traditional stories and legends passed through generations are vital for survival. Such stories might also be seen as sources of information on special ceremonies, significant dreams, and unusual coincidences. For instance, there is a story in many nations about the man who killed snow leopard and whose family later suffers from a huge tragedy – death of a child or loss of means of earning that leads to poverty. Such stories are quite informative as they tell about the consequences for the person who dares to break taboo on killing totemic animals.
