Kyrgyzstan and Tatarstan formed a snow leopard conservation consortium and opened the Ek-Ilbirs Center in Issyk-Kul. It will become one of two platforms for scientific activities: the study of genetic diversity, monitoring of wild populations, development of breeding methods and restoration with a return to nature, creation of a biobank and cryobank, data exchange and training of experts. The second is a snow leopard center in Altai, which Tatarstan has been developing since the 1920s. Kyrgyzstan has the highest density of snow leopards in the world, but lacks the infrastructure and expertise that Kazan is willing to provide in exchange for its reputation as a leader in this field.