Posted on November, 19 2018

The "International Snow Leopard Day" has been celebrated since 2013 by WWF-Mongolia with the purpose of encouragement on learning and protection of rare and endangered snow leopards.
This year, the event is held in Ulaanbaatar and Bayan-Ulgii province of Altai-Sayan Ecoregion (ASER) on October 23, 2018. More than 100 children from four provinces of Altai-Sayan Ecoregion and Russian Federation participated in Snow leopard day. Apart from the children, more than 200 people participated in the celebration such as teachers, officers from Department of Education and Culture, and Protected Area Administrations. Parent representatives also participated in the opening ceremony.
This year’s celebration was entirely devoted for raising better public understanding on the globally endangered species, and its ecological importance. In this context, children performed a play about how wildlife right to live is being violated and it caught many people’s attention. The organizers mentioned that many exciting activities organized on this day and measures have been taken to publicize significance of endangered animals, especially snow leopard conservation. Moreover, children handed over an assignment for wildlife and snow leopard conservation to province officials which was remarkable. In the end of the event, a snow leopard cub statue made by a metal trap was given to Bayan-Ulgii province governor. Province governor promised to work hard on environment and wildlife conservation for the year and the statue will be handed over to Gobi-Altai province next year.
The Snow Leopard Day is celebrated in Ulaanbaatar city as well. WWF-Mongolia, Fresh Water Resources and Nature Conservation Center of the Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism, and City Environment Department cooperatively celebrated the day under the slogan "WE HAVE A RIGHT TO LIFE" among the school students of Ulaanbaatar city. One of the features of this event was that students were hosting the snow leopard conservation information by themselves. During the celebration, a flash mob dance and art performances were presented, also corners for snow leopard promise board, pictures and animal quiz were available. Furthermore, students who successfully participated in the event were awarded a project implementation entitlement.