12 - 25 December we surveyed Pallas Cat in the Altai Republic. This work was conducted in the frames of the Project "PALLAS CAT: INVESTIGATION FOR SAVING (Clarifying Conservation Status in Russia)". Local also. The research team was consisted of specialists from NGO Siberian Environmental Center (Novosibirsk), Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow) and 1 volunteer.

The key Pallas Cats' habitats in the south-eastern Altai (the Chuya steppe) were investigated. Also local people (herdsmen, hunters, etc.) were interviewed on Pallas Cat number and distribution.

The surveys showed that Pallas cat is common although sparse in the foothills of the Chuya steppe. However Pallas cats are killed by shepherd's dogs, sometimes by wolfs. Unfortunately there are cases of illegal hunts on Pallas cats for fur and meat.

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Source: Anna Barashkova, the team head