The Persian leopard, also known as the Caucasian leopard is a leopard population in the Caucasus, Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. The Persian leopard was previously considered a distinct subspecies, Panthera pardus saxicolor or Panthera pardus ciscaucasica,[2] but is now assigned to the subspecies Panthera pardus tulliana, which also includes the Anatolian leopard in Turkey.
The Persian leopard is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, as the population is estimated at fewer than 871–1,290 mature individuals and considered declining. The year 2019 was announced as “The Year of the Caucasian Leopard” by the Ministry of Nature Protection of Armenia.
In Armenia, people and leopards co-existed since early prehistoric times. By the mid-20th century leopards were relatively common in the country’s mountains. Today, there are around 10 individuals permanently inhabiting Armenia, while two decades ago there was no trace of the leopard. The mystical beauty, they say, has returned to breathe a new life into the Armenian highlands.
Regional Post met and talked with people who’re actively involved in the conservation processes of Leopard in Armenia. The article was brought in partnership with Ministry of Environment of Armenia, WWF Armenia, CNF – Caucasus Nature Fund, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
In 2009, a Persian Leopard Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre was created in Sochi National Park, a national park in Western Caucasus, near the city of Sochi, in Southern Russia, where two male leopards from Turkmenistan are being kept since September 2009, and two females from Iran since May 2010. Their descendants are planned to be released into the wild in the Caucasus Biosphere Reserve.
In 2012, a pair of leopards was brought to the Persian Leopard Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre from Lisbon Zoo. Two cubs were born there in July 2013. It is planned to release them into the wild after they have learned survival skills.
The Leopard: The Mystical Beauty of the Armenian Highlands Returned