A Persian leopard (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica), also known as the Caucasian panther, was filmed in the Sharoy area of Chechnya. The video was sent by a graduate student of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS, having received it from his Chechen colleagues. Together with the project's scientific support team, he is studying the possibilities of restoring the Caucasian leopard in the North Caucasus. Video materials are already being studied by specialists.
“For us, this news is certainly positive, pleasant. However, we have yet to determine if this leopard is one of the previously released individuals, or if it is a natural specimen, like the recently seen male in Kabardino-Balkaria. In the near future, more detailed information will be presented at a meeting of the Section on the Persian leopard at the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia. The restoration of the main predator for the Caucasus has already united a huge number of people who advocate the preservation of our unique nature, and we are always glad to pay attention to this problem,” said Vyacheslav Vladimirovich Rozhnov, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Scientific Director of the Program for the restoration of the Persian leopard in the Caucasus.
The program for the restoration of the Persian leopard in the Caucasus is being implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia with the participation of the Sochi National Park, the Caucasus Reserve, the North Ossetian Reserve, the Alania National Park, the Elbrus National Park, the World Fund for Nature, the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences RAS (IEE RAS), Institute of Ecology of Mountain Territories. A.K. Tembotov RAS (IEGT RAS), Moscow Zoo, with the assistance of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA). Financial support for the monitoring of the Persian leopard in the Caucasus is provided by VTB Bank. In North Ossetia, RusHydro is providing financial support for the population recovery program.