Second issue of Persian Leopard Newsletter is released.
"leopard "
Recent genetic researches have revealed that most of Persian leopards within the European and American zoos are not originally from Iran. The project which was jointly implemented by the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS), Conservation of Asiatic Cheetah Project, Iranian Department of Environment and University of Tehran was based on comparing genetic sequences of a few dozens of leopard samples from around Iran and several individuals which were supposed to be the purest representatives within a number of world zoos. The Iranian leopards and captive Persian leopards fall within two distinct clusters which can be an indication of hybridization, as well. Meanwhile, it is probably that the zoo animals have been captured from non-Iranian countries within the Persian leopard range in west Asia some while ago. Based on latest assessment by EAZA/EEP, there are around 100 Persian leopards in the European zoos which have been descended from 9 founders and potential genetic inbreeding depression is a main concern among the zoos.
An investigation on Persian leopard was carried out from September 2007 to October 2008 in Ghorkhod & Behkadeh Reserve, northeastern Iran. The area is the main buffer habitat around the core (source) population in Golestan National Park, but it suffers severe depletion of natural prey species due to lower level of protection measures, and is probably a sink population. We conclude that to ensure corridors and buffer zones, the most urgent and achievable solution is perhaps to designate additional
Iranian Zoo Leopards in International Leopard Studbook
A young leopard which came inside a village probably in search for food in Mazandaran province, northern Iran, was anesthetized and captured by the Iranian Department of the Environment (DoE) in September 2008. The animal was trapped inside a coral which villagers informed game guards to rescue the small cub. The animal was then moved to Semeskandeh Wildlife Refuge for treatment of slight injuries cause during capturing in order to being recovered. Meanwhile, nothing is known about the mother and it is reported that the animal was alone. However, it is quite aggressive toward people and is kept inside a small cage at the moment. It is estimated that the animal has no more than 6 months.
Worthy to note, Darabad Museum of Wildlife and Nature is home to a large male Persian leopard since 2000 which was brought there as a cub whose mother poached. The animal seems healthy, but without mate and lives inside a modern and safe cage. During the past couple of years, much efforts have been made by the museum Darabad authorities to find a female for Rika (meaning boy), but without success. An adult female Persian leopard lives in Mashad Zoo, but communication between two facilities during the past few years has no outcome to cooperate. Presently, it seems that Rika has been lucky that near the end of his reproductive life, there is a chance for her to reproduce. Both of them (Rika and Kija, the small new cub meaning girl), are from the same origin and since the animal is supposed to not able to survive in the wild on her own, therefore, the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) has proposed to launch the first breeding site for the endangered Persian leopard in Iran. However, the fate of offsprings should be discussed. At the moment, the ICS is facilitating interaction between the relevant governmental organizations in order to establish a mutual partnership between the DoE and Darabad to transfer Kija to the same plcae of Rika.
A leopard was photographed in the Iranian Baluchestan
An adult Persian leopard was photographed on late March in Birk Protected Area, near the Iran-Pakistan border. The area has been one of the main habitats in southeastern country where it was supposed to be a leopard refuge. Meanwhile, due to remoteness of the area and lack of security because of drug smugglers, no intensive survey has been implemented in this area.
Since winter 2008, the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) initiated the first leopard survey in southeastern Iran to identify the leopard range and probably getting an insight into the leopard population (read more). Preliminary surveys indicated that serious conflict between leopard and local Baluch nomads exist, but due to some local beliefs, the nomads do not shoot the leopards. It was estimated that a total of 10 to 20 livestock, mainly domestic goat are killed monthly by the leopards and since there is no alternative source of income for local nomads, it is a great loss with respect to small size of their herds.
Birk Protected Area is one of few reserves in southeastern Iran which is mainly consisted of a long mountainous chain of around 100 kilometers extending from north to the Pakistan border. This 70,000 hectares area is supposed to hold small number of the Asiatic black bear and the adult leopard was captured by the camera traps in its northern extension.
Finally, an adult Persian leopard was captured by camera traps in main core of Birk Protected Area in Iranian Baluchestan. The adult male was photo trapped on late May 2009 in southeastern Iran, close to Pakistan border. According to the images, the animal is injured on his right eye and it seems that he is relied only on left eyesight. Initiated since winter 2008, the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) empowered local game guards to conduct Persian leopard surveys, particularly using camera trap. They were provided with a number of camera traps in order to set with aim of Baluch nomads. Recently, an adult animal was captured outside the area’s main core zone which was a new evidence of vast range of the Persian leopards in the reserve. Based on photo traps as well local inquiries, there is no doubt that at least 5 Persian leopards live in Birk Protected Area where is supposed to be the main habitat of the predator in southwestern province of Baluchestan.
A one-day training workshop was held in the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) in order to share the latest findings of leopard research efforts with volunteers and members and educate them to be involved in Year of Leopard activities. The workshop was held in the ICS Activity Center in Tehran and attendances discussed about various ecological aspects of Persian leopard and found a clear perception of main threats for its survival, especially in Iran.
According to some Persian calendars, 2010 is the Year of Leopard in Iran which is a great opportunity to attract people
In order to educate local people around the Persian leopard habitats in Iran, educational manuals have been published by the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS). Targeting students at two different educational levels, namely primary and junior high schools, the manuals are designed based on local circumstances of Sarigol National Park where has been one of the main sits of leopard research and educational programs by the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) since 2005. The readers will learn various aspects of the Persian leopard through games, puzzles, stories, etc. These manuals are applicable for other habitats of the Persian leopard in Iran and the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) highly welcomes any other Iranian NGO willing to carry out an educational plan in order to increase people’s awareness in at local level. You can download the manuals from the Library section of the wesbite.
During 2008, at least 13 Persian leopards were killed in Iran due to various human-related factors which direct killing accounted for 12 (92%) of mortalities. This high mortality rate of the leopards implies critical status of the significant big cat in the country and alarms a gloomy future for the endangered Persian Leopard. Meanwhile, high mortality rate of leopards in recent years sometimes has been interpreted as an indicator of population increasing and good status by some of the Iranian experts.
According to studies on reproductive ecology of the Persian leopard in Iran conducted by the ICS, the predator rarely raises more than two cubs to the second year- the year of independence from mother- in most cases in Iran and most of accompanying litters are just one cub. Comparing Persian leopards and Asiatic cheetahs, the average of cubs in companion of mother in the Asiatic cheetahs is over two cubs per mother. Accordingly, it seems that the Persian leopard has a lower breeding rate. On the other hand, the recent droughts probably has had a significant role to limit population growth of ungulates as preys for leopards. Therefore, it is not logical to expect having suitable natural circumstances for the leopards to increase their population. With no conservation reinforcement plus human population pressure, any potential hope is going blur.
Since the major incidents of leopard kills have been occurred near the human settlements, however, it implies absence or lack of natural preys for the cat in higher elevations and consequently they approach the human settlements in search for food. So, this is clearly not a sign of increasing of their population. On the other hand, the increasing conflict between local communities and the leopards has led to misunderstanding that the leopards have increased, but the population of Persian leopards in Iran is diminishing rapidly.