Brad Rutherford: Mongolia plays a key role in protecting snow leopards

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ O.Baasankhuu MP, a head of parliamentary Standing committee on petitions, received Snow Leopard Trust executive director Brad Rutherford and its Science and Conservation Director Charudutt Mishra, on Monday at State House. The lawmaker wanted to clarify the reasons why Tost and Tosonbumba Mountains should be taken under special protection. Accordingly, over 1,500 letters and petitions have been submitted to the standing committee on this issue, Baasankhuu noted. Mr Rutherford said the Tost and Tosonbumba Mountains are new landmark for global effort on snow leopard conservation, having sheltered many newborn cubs. He said the international Snow Leopard Trust has been receiving proposals from local people on conserving the Tost, Tosonbumba area. Mongolia is playing a key role in the global campaign for preserving the species, he said and added that he is truthfully sorry for the biologist late T.Lkhagvasumberel. “He was an active member of our team. We will continue what he had planned to accomplish. I knew him so well in person that I visited his home and met his parents. It is a great loss not only for Mongolia but also for the world”, he said. In turn, Baasankhuu MP pledged to set up an extended working group on this conservation issue, involving representatives of all related parties.