Video: How Many Leopards Are There in Armenia

May 3 is International Leopard Day. The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia reports this. The purpose of the day is to draw public attention to the conservation of the leopard population, involving people as much as possible in the preservation of this magnificent species in the wild.

The ministry presents a collective video of leopards documented over the years at the 'Arevik' National Park as part of the State Nature Reserve 'Zangezur,' in cooperation with the Armenia branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) under the 'Leopard Conservation Program'.

The leopard is classified as 'critically endangered' in the Red Book of the Republic of Armenia (2010) and as 'vulnerable' in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The estimated population of the animal in Armenia reaches up to 10 individuals.

The leopard is a flexible creature with a slender, muscular body that measures between 180-200 cm in length, while its tail measures 80-100 cm. An adult male can sometimes weigh up to 90 kg. They have short, rounded ears, short and sturdy legs, and wide paws with sharp claws that allow them to climb trees well. They possess sharp vision and good hearing, but their sense of smell is relatively underdeveloped.

The leopard is one of the symbols of Armenia. It appears as a symbol of wisdom and strength in ancient sculptures and paintings.