VIDEO: This Time the Leopard Found the Camera Trap Itself

This time, a camera trap set by Boris Vanyan, a forest keeper at the Caucasian Wildlife Refuge (CWR), has attracted the attention of the Transcaucasian leopard (Panthera pardus (Linnaeus, 1758)). According to the criteria of the IUCN Red List, the species is assessed as 'Critically Endangered' (CR C2a(i)D) and requires maximum conservation efforts.

The Caucasian Wildlife Refuge, covering approximately 30,000 hectares, is the first privately protected area in the South Caucasus. It is managed by the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values (FPWC). The CWR and its surrounding areas are crucial for the conservation of biodiversity in the South Caucasus. Rare animal species such as the brown bear, bezoar ibex, black vulture, bearded vulture, Armenian mouflon, and the Transcaucasian leopard inhabit this region.

The Transcaucasian leopard is a rare species recorded in the Red Book of Animals of Armenia, and its conservation is extremely important today. The regular observation of the movement of this animal indicates that a viable prey base exists and that all conditions for a safe environment are being met.

According to the data from the Armenian Ministry of Education and Science, leopards inhabit south-western and southern Armenia, from the central and eastern parts of the Khosrov Forest Reserve to the Armenian-Iranian border, surrounding the Geghama, Zangezour, Vayots Dzor, Bargushat, and Meghri mountain ranges. The main threats to their survival are habitat fragmentation, primarily caused by poaching and human economic activities.