You Will Be Fined 100 Million Drams for Hunting Caucasian Leopard

The government approved a draft amendment to the law on "Tariffs for Damage Caused to Animal and Plant Life Due to Environmental Violations" during today's meeting. The amendment increases the damage tariff for hunting or exterminating the critically endangered Caucasian leopard, which is listed in the Red Book.

The proposed damage fee for hunting or exterminating this species is raised from 3 million drams to 100 million drams.

In the spring of 2018, camera traps set by the Global Nature Fund in the Khosrov State Reserve captured the first ever image of a Caucasian leopard, a species that had never been documented by any previous traps in the reserve's history. Recognizing the significance of this, the Ministry of Environment declared 2019 as the Year of Caucasian Leopard Conservation, aiming to raise public awareness through conferences, films, and exhibitions.

This draft law would allow a portion of the fines incurred from environmental violations to be directed toward better protection and restoration of relevant areas, including specially protected natural territories.

The adoption of this project will hinder the hunting or extermination of the Caucasian leopard. Currently, there are 7-9 leopards recorded in Armenia, residing primarily in the regions of Ararat, Vayots Dzor, and Syunik.