BBC News to Air Episode on Snow Leopards in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A new episode of the popular nature series BBC News Adventures in Conservation: Searching for Snow Leopards will take viewers to the mountains of Uzbekistan in search of one of the planet’s most elusive predators — the snow leopard.

The special episode will air on Saturday, 28 February. The program’s host, naturalist Michaela Strachan, joined the first international filming crew to work alongside rangers of the Gissar State Nature Reserve in the Tien Shan mountain system.

In the reserve, one of the key ecosystems in Central Asia, over 270 animal species are monitored using 75 camera traps, including brown bears, Siberian ibex, and the Turkestan lynx. Despite this, snow leopards remain extremely rare, with around 60 individuals recorded in the reserve.

During the expedition, Michaela and her team collected data for conservation programs. According to zoologist Maria Gricina, this information is of international significance, as snow leopards move across borders in the region. The data will help prepare a new assessment of the species’ population.

“I have been fortunate to travel the world filming wildlife, but the snow leopard is one of the animals I have yet to see,” said Michaela Strachan. “We are heading to a remote corner of the Tien Shan as the first international crew to document the rangers’ work and meet the people who live alongside these rare animals. I hope BBC viewers will join us on this adventure and help search for the ‘ghosts of the mountains.’”

The episode was produced by Electric Eel Studios, directed by India Latham, with executive producers Talia Franco and Simon Hancock, and project editor Emma D’Et. The premiere on BBC News is scheduled for 28 February at 17:30 Uzbekistan time, with repeat broadcasts on 1 March at 5:30 and 12:30.

A digital version of the episode will be available on BBC.com.