Pollinators and Predators: Beekeeping’s Role in Snow Leopard Survival

Snow-capped peaks, rugged landscapes, breathtaking views, wild rivers, and endless wilderness—welcome to Kyrgyzstan! We headed deep into the heart of the Tien Shan mountains, into the territory of one of the world’s most elusive and majestic creatures: the Snow Leopard. But this wasn’t just a journey into the wild; it’s a story of survival—of both the land and the people who call it home. 

We had driven hundreds of miles on dirt trails across Kyrgyzstan, crossing over two high mountain passes and many rivers heading further into the wilderness, where the Snow Leopards roam. Our plan was to go as far as possible by vehicle to a small village called Ak Shirak, which is located in a sensitive area near the Chinese border, in Sarychat-Eertash Nature Reserve. It has the highest concentration of Snow Leopards in the country, it’s also somewhere very few venture to. We had arranged the permits weeks before we arrived and we were ready for anything. 

We’d met a few people along the way who had suggested we wouldn’t make it for various reasons, and shortly after we were thinking maybe they were right as we came to numerous dead ends but we were confident, based on our contacts and research, that it was possible. 

After a few very long, but beautiful days, we arrived in Sarychat Eertash Nature Reserve. At this time of year, many of the villagers head towards Issyk-Kul lake, so we spent the day with the only person we found left in the village, his name was Ernek and he was a herder there. He talked to us about life in Ak Shirak and we learned more about the situation on the ground, specifically with regard to the Snow Leopards and people living in that area. 

The Snow Leopard plays a significant role in the ecosystem, far beyond its role as a predator. It helps maintain a delicate balance by controlling the populations of animals like ibex, Marco Polo sheep, and marmots. Without the Snow Leopard, these species could overpopulate, leading to overgrazing and the destruction of vital plant life. This disruption could have a cascading effect, impacting other wildlife, water sources, and even local human communities who rely on the land’s resources. In essence, the Snow Leopard isn’t just a predator—it’s a keystone species, meaning it plays a critical role in maintaining the health and stability of its entire ecosystem, ensuring that plants, animals, and people can thrive.

Despite being at the top of the food chain the Snow Leopard faces numerous threats in the region, including mining, poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict. How do you protect a species that roams across vast areas of up to 1,000 square kilometres, in such remote and rugged landscapes? The answer might just surprise you. 

People have lived with Snow Leopards for generations, but for years, this beautiful creature was seen as a threat. Herders lost their animals to the big cat. Livestock is their livelihood, so for the villagers, the solution seemed simple: the Snow Leopard had to go, but the future of conservation is being reimagined, where it’s about creating solutions that work for both nature and the local communities. After all we are not separate from nature. We are a part of it.

After spending some time in Ak Shirak, it was time to learn more about the solutions to the challenges on the ground regarding human and wildlife conflict and coexistence. We made the journey back towards civilization to meet up with Benazir and Kubin from the Snow Leopard Foundation-Kyrgyzstan who are partnered with The Snow Leopard Trust, also known as SLT. Things were about to get a whole lot sweeter. 

“What I realized was that I needed to change my view about communities, stop seeing them as a problem for conservation, but instead try to see them as the opportunity.”

Charudutt Mishra Executive Director of The Snow Leopard Trust

Spanning 12 countries in Asia and over 40 years of work, the Snow Leopard Trust focuses on protecting Snow Leopards through research, camera traps, and partnerships with local organisations and communities. Here in Kyrgyzstan, the SLT is working directly with Snow Leopard Foundation-Kyrgyzstan, who are their local partners on the ground. Using this same model across this vast area, they’re helping to secure a future for the snow leopards and the local people.

We’d based ourselves at Jaichy Yurt Camp while visiting the neighboring villages to learn more about their community-based efforts. Protecting this endangered species is in some ways more about the people that live alongside them than the actual animals themselves. Livestock herding is deeply embedded in the country’s identity and for many rural families, it is their main source of income. Trying to convince them that they should protect an animal that is a threat to their very survival is a hard sell. 

Kubin, the Director of Snow Leopard Foundation-Kyrgyzstan for the last 20 years, explained that gaining the trust and support of local communities can be challenging but without it you will fail. It’s not as simple as just telling them that Snow Leopards or any other species are important. The local people need to see the benefits for themselves. One key benefit is that Snow Leopards help maintain the health of the ecosystem, which directly impacts the land that farmers and herders rely on. Additionally, ecotourism offers a promising source of income for local communities, while initiatives like predator-proof fences and livestock insurance have successfully reduced human-wildlife conflict.

But new challenges are emerging. Rising livestock numbers are leading to overgrazing, where too much vegetation is eaten and the land can’t regenerate. And there is possibly even a bigger threat to these communities and the snow leopards which is the increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather which makes it harder to sustain both herding practices and conservation efforts.

In response, Kubin and his team are working on introducing alternative income streams to reduce the reliance on traditional herding. Some families have been given dehydrators so that they can dry fruit more efficiently and then sell it. Especially in the winter when it sells at a premium. They are also training people in beekeeping. Not only is honey enjoyed throughout the country but Kyrgyzstan is also recognized internationally for their honey and the demand for it continues to increase. In Ak Shirak, the women make traditional felt rugs and crafts that are sold worldwide throught the SLT network.

We also learned about the more innovative ideas Kubin has decided to have a go at.

We learned about Kyrgyzstan’s first microreserve, created and still managed by locals. Baatyr, who runs the Jaichy Yurt Camp where we stayed at, played a key role in its establishment and since its inception, Snow Leopard and Ibex populations have been growing within the reserve. He summed up nicely the importance of protecting Snow Leopards. 

As we wrapped up this journey, it was clear that protecting the Snow leopard isn’t just about saving a species—it’s about building a resilient future for both wildlife and the people who live alongside them. The local community must be involved. Kubin and his team’s efforts are proof that conservation isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s about understanding the unique challenges faced by each community and finding ways to help them thrive while preserving the environment. There’s actually an Ethical Conservation Alliance, whose mission is to create a global movement towards ethical conservation by empowering local and indigenous communities around the world to become conservation leaders at grass roots level. This is great to see!