Strengthening international efforts for the Pallas’s cat

To strengthen the conservation of the elusive Pallas’s cat, Nordens Ark recently took part in an international workshop in Kazakhstan. Together with researchers and conservationists from several countries, joint methods are now being developed to monitor the species in the wild.

To strengthen the conservation of the elusive Pallas’s cat, Nordens Ark recently took part in an international workshop in Kazakhstan. Together with researchers and conservationists from several countries, joint methods are now being developed to monitor the species in the wild.Staff from Nordens Ark recently took part in an international workshop in Almaty, Kazakhstan, focusing on developing a standardised plan for monitoring Pallas’s cat populations in Central Asia.

The workshop brought together experts from several of the species’ range countries, including Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Mongolia. The aim was to establish common methods that would allow populations to be monitored and compared across national borders.


Camera traps were set up to gain a better understanding of the species’ presence in the area. Photo: Jimmy Helgesson

On the final day of the workshop, a meeting was also held to update the international conservation strategy for the species. The original strategy was developed during an international meeting at Nordens Ark in 2018, and the revision provided an opportunity to evaluate the progress made since then. In addition to those attending in person, experts from the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group participated online.

After the workshop, the participants continued into the field with a visit to Altyn Emel National Park – a spectacular area known for its unique landscapes and rich fauna. Six camera traps were set up in strategically chosen rocky locations to gather data on the presence of Pallas’s cats in the park. The cameras will remain in place for a year, and it is hoped they will not only provide new insights into the Pallas’s cat but also capture images of other species, such as the snow leopard.


In search of the Pallas’s cat. Photo: Jimmy Helgesson

Nordens Ark took part as a member of PICA (Pallas’s Cat International Conservation Alliance) together with our partner, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS). PICA also funded parts of the event, the field trip and the camera-trap equipment. The workshop was organised by the Manul Working Group and the Kazakhstani organisation ACBK (Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan).

Although important progress has been made in the conservation of the Pallas’s cat, many challenges remain. As with many other small wild cats, a lack of funding continues to be a major limitation. Through PICA, Nordens Ark works with its partners within the Manul Working Group to increase knowledge and awareness of the species – efforts that, in time, may lead to greater financial and practical support for its conservation in the wild.