Images of Snow Leopard Cubs in Siberia Suggest Species Rebound

In the 1990s the population of snow leopards in Siberia was almost completely decimated, but a new series of photos featuring two snow leopard cubs frolicking in the Siberian wilderness is evidence that populations are rebounding, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Camera traps set up along the Argut River Valley in eastern Russia spotted the playful pair of cubs. The traps were financed by the WWF and operated by the the Altai Project, WWF-Russia and Snow Leopard Conservancy.

"These photos are the evidence of the effectiveness of our work in Altai, the snow leopards are breeding," Sergei Spitsyn, from the Altaiskiy State Nature Reserve, told the WWF.

Evidence from other studies in the area has led researchers to believe that there are as many as eight snow leopards living inhabiting the Argut River Valley.

The cubs filmed by the camera traps are thought to be less than one year old.

The WWF said the cubs "are significant as they indicate that the population of snow leopards in the Argut Valley can be restored."

The conservation organizations enlisted the help of an ex-poacher, who treks to the camera traps to collect the data and checks the area for snares and other animal traps.

Globally, snow leopards number about 6,000 in the wild across 12 countries, but their number is declining overall, the WWF said. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List puts the snow leopard as a globally endangered species.

Click here for more images of the snow leopard cubs.