If you’re unfamiliar with a wild Persian leopard, don’t stress. I certainly wasn’t prior to writing this post, but as it turns out, they are truly beautiful creatures.
And, while you may not have heard of these guys before, they’re actually making a comeback in terms of their population in the Russian mountains, says an article from The Good News Network who reprinted the article with permission from World At Large.
“A pair of Persian leopards, a species that numbers less than 50 individuals in the Russian Federation, have been released as part of a WWF captive breeding program to try and revitalize a declining species.
“Kodor (male) and Laba (female) were born and brought up in a special leopard breeding and training center in Sochi National Park, which was established in the Caucasus Mountains back in 2009.
“They were released as adults, having learned indepedence, hunting skills, and socialization within the safety of captivity to ensure they stand a chance at surviving long enough to help the species recover.
“This is the organization’s third successful reintroduction of leopards into the Caucasus, but it was a record that wouldn’t last long, as merely five days later, on August 25th, two more charismatic felines lept from wooden cages into the Russian wilderness.
“The four leopards, which when combined with another three who were released in 2016—the first as part of the Sochi reintroduction program, and joined by another solitary female in 2018, may have increased the number of leopards in the biosphere of the famous mountain range by 20%,” the article explains.
I thoroughly enjoy hearing about species of animals making a strong comeback regarding their presence on this Earth, and a rise in populations amongst wild Persian leopards is no exception. If you’re ever in Russia or in close proximity to the Caucasus Mountains, see if you’re fortunate enough to spot one of these magnificent creatures in action.
Image from https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/wild-persian-leopards-reintroduced-to-russia/, copyright WWF/David Manganelli
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