Persian leopard: Difference between revisions

Persian leopard
Conservation status
	; Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Felidae
Genus:	Panthera
Species:	P. pardus
Subspecies:	P. p. ciscaucasica
Trinomial name
	Panthera pardus ciscaucasica; (Satunin, 1914)

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The Persian leopard (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica), also called the Caucasian leopard is the leopard subspecies native to the Caucasus, Turkmenistan and Northern Iran. It is endangered throughout its range in the Middle East with fewer than 871-1,290 mature individuals.^[1]

Description

The Persian leopard is one of the largest of all the subspecies of leopards in the world. It can stand up to 2.5 feet (75 cm) tall at the shoulder, and weigh as much as 155 lbs (70 kg).

Distribution and habitat

The Russian explorer Satunin first described the Caucasian leopard P.p. ciscaucasica in 1914 from a specimen in the Kuban region of North Caucasus.^[2] In the 1920s, the British zoologist Pocock collected specimens from different areas of Persia and described them as Persian leopard P.p. saxicolor in 1927, though recognizing the similarity to P.p. ciscaucasica.^[3] Today, these names are considered synonyms.^[4]

There has been a huge decline in the former range of the leopard in the Caucasus, which is estimated to have once covered the whole region, except for steppe areas. The severe economic crisis following major political and social changes in 1992 in the former Soviet Union, together with a weakening of formerly effective protection systems resulted in a sharp rise in hunting of wild ungulates, persecution of leopards and fragmentation of the ranges of all wildlife.^[5] As of 2008, of the estimated 871-1,290 mature leopards

about 200–300 survive in Afghanistan, where their status is poorly known;
less than 10–13 survive in Armenia;
less than 10–13 survive in Azerbaijan;
less than 5 survive in Georgia;
about 550–850 live in Iran, which is the leopard stronghold in the Middle East;
about 3–4 survive in Nagorno-Karabakh;
less than 10 survive in the Russian North Caucasus;
less than 5 survive in Turkey;
about 78–90 live in Turkmenistan.^[1]

Their habitat consists of subalpine meadows, broadleaved forests and rugged ravines from 600–3,800 metres (2,000–12,500 ft) in the Greater Caucasus, and rocky slopes, mountain steppes, and sparse juniper forests in the Lesser Caucasus and Iran.^[5]

In Armenia

In Armenia, people and leopards co-existed since the early

Geghama mountains, where between October 2000 to July 2002 tracks of no more than 10 individuals were found in an area of 780 square kilometres (300 sq mi).^[7] Leopards were known to live on the Meghri Ridge in the extreme south of Armenia, where only one individual was camera-trapped between August 2006 to April 2007, and no signs of other leopards were found during track surveys conducted over an area of 296.9 square kilometres (114.6 sq mi). The local prey base could support 4–10 individuals, but poaching and disturbance caused by livestock breeding, gathering of edible plants and mushrooms, deforestation and human-induced wild fires are so high that they exceed the tolerance limits of leopards.^[8]

In Azerbaijan

Leopards are present in the Talysh Mountains in the far southeast, where their habitat is continuous with that on the Iranian side of Talysh Mountains. Only very few individuals survive in the Ilisu State Reserve in the northwest.^[9]

Despite occasional sightings, it was not clear whether leopards had been extinct in Azerbaijan by the late 1990s, until a specimen was

Hirkan State Reserve/Hirkan National Park.^{[citation needed}

]

In Georgia

Since 1954, leopards were thought to be extinct in Georgia — killed by hunters. In the winter of 2003, zoologists found footprints of a leopard in Vashlovani Reserve in southeastern Georgia and later camera-trapped one individual.^[10]

Over the last 60 years, there have been several sightings of leopards around the Tbilisi area and in the Shida Kartli province to the northwest of the capital. Leopards live primarily in dense forests, although several have been spotted in the lowland plains in the southeastern region of Kakheti in 2004.

In Iran

Leopards are mainly found in the

Zagros range, leopard habitats extend to the south of Iran, close to the Persian Gulf

. The habitat of the Persian Leopard may cover a wide area of Iran, but leopard populations are scattered, fragmented and threatened. Human settlements and activities are the main threats for the species. The Persian Leopard's main prey in Iran is Bezoar goat (Cervus elaphus maral
) and domestic animals such as camels, goats, sheep or dogs. The principle threats to Persian Leopard survival in Iran are population fragmentation and loss of habitat due to human population encroachment, poisoning and poaching. The Persian Leopard is a flag-ship species and its presence is a sign of the health of the entire ecosystem. The Persian Leopard is an apex predator in most of Iran's provinces. The leopard's chances for survival outside the protected areas of the Department of the Environment appear very slim.

Diet

A leopard's diet varies depending on where it lives. The mainstay of their diet are medium-sized

mustelids

, as well as birds and reptiles, are also readily taken.

Threats

This species is listed as endangered and commercial trade of this species is prohibited by international law. The Persian leopard has been threatened due to persecution, habitat loss, and poaching. It is also one of the animals in western Asia which is suffering from warfare in its mountain range.

References

^

International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

.

^ Satunin, K.A. (1914) Key of the Mammals of the Russian Empire. Vol. 1: Chiroptera, Insectivora and Carnivora. Tiflis: Tiflis : Tipografīi︠a︡ Kant︠s︡eli︠a︡rīi nami︠e︡stnika E.I.V. na Kavkazi︠e︡ (in Russian)
^ Pocock, R.I. Description of two subspecies of leopards. Annals and magazine of Natural History, Series 9, no. 20: 213–214
^ Khorozyan, I. G., Gennady, F., Baryshnikov, G. F., Abramov, A. V. (2006) Taxonomic status of the leopard, Panthera pardus (Carnivora, Felidae) in the Caucasus and adjacent areas. Russian Journal of Theriology 5(1): 41–52. pdf
^ ^a ^b Breitenmoser, Ch. and U. (eds.) Status of the leopard in the Caucasus. Cat News Special Issue N° 2, May 2007 summaries online
^ Khorozyan, I. (2003) The Persian leopard in Armenia: research and conservation. Proceedings of Regional Scientific Conference “Wildlife Research and Conservation in South Caucasus”, 7–8 October 2003, Yerevan, Armenia: 161-163
^ Khorozyan, I., Malkhasyan, A. (2002) Ecology of the leopard (Panthera pardus) in Khosrov Reserve, Armenia: implications for conservation. Scientific Reports of the Zoological Society “La Torbiera” 6: 1–41
^ Khorozyan, I., Malkhazyan, A. G., Abramov, A. (2008) "Presence – absence surveys of prey and their use in predicting leopard (Panthera pardus) densities: a case study from Armenia." Integrative Zoology 2008, 3: 322-332
^ WWF (2007) Strategy for the Conservation of the Leopard in the Caucasus Ecoregion. Strategic Planning Workshop on Leopard Conservation in the Caucasus. Tbilisi, Georgia, 30 May – 1 June 2007 pdf
^ Antelava, N. (2004). Lone leopard spotted in Georgia. BBC News, 25 May 2004. online

External links

[iucn-1] 
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
.

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@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 ===In Georgia===
-Over the last 60 years, there have been several sightings of leopards around the [[Tbilisi]] area and in the [[Shida Kartli]] province to the northwest of the capital. Leopards live primarily in dense forests, although several have been spotted in the lowland plains in the southeastern region of [[Kakheti]] in 2004.<ref>Antelava, N. (2004). ''Lone leopard spotted in Georgia.'' BBC News, 25 May 2004. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3746491.stm online]</ref>
+Since 1954, leopards were thought to be extinct in Georgia — killed by hunters. In the winter of 2003, zoologists found footprints of a leopard in [[Vashlovani National Park|Vashlovani Reserve]] in southeastern Georgia and later [[Camera trap|camera-trapped]] one individual.<ref>Antelava, N. (2004). ''Lone leopard spotted in Georgia.'' BBC News, 25 May 2004. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3746491.stm online]</ref>
+Over the last 60 years, there have been several sightings of leopards around the [[Tbilisi]] area and in the [[Shida Kartli]] province to the northwest of the capital. Leopards live primarily in dense forests, although several have been spotted in the lowland plains in the southeastern region of [[Kakheti]] in 2004.
 ===In Iran===