Camera traps picture Persian leopard in western Iran

TEHRAN – Camera traps captured photos of a Persian leopard in Khorram Abad, western Lorestan province, Mehrdad Fathi Beiranvand, provincial department of environment chief has said.

Persian leopard appeared on camera trap in northwestern Iran

TEHRAN – A photo of a Persian leopard was recorded by a camera trap in the western part of Alamut hunting restricted area, located in northwestern Qazvin province, Mehr news agency reported on Friday.

By Jamshid Parchizadeh

Persian leopard’s global range

The Persian leopard is classed as “Endangered” on the Red List of the “International Union for Conservation of Nature” with an estimated population size of 871 to 1,290 individuals. It occurs: 1) throughout Iran, 2) southern Turkmenistan, 3) parts of Afghanistan, 4) northwestern and southern Azerbaijan, 5) northeastern Iraq, 6) southwestern Dagestan in the Russian Federation, 7) southern and southwestern Armenia, 8) eastern and southeastern Turkey, 9) eastern and southeastern Georgia, 10) parts of Pakistan, 11) small parts of Tajikistan, and 12) probably small parts of Uzbekistan.

Traps picture 10 Persian leopards in southwestern Iran

TEHRAN – Camera traps have succeeded in taking photos of 10 Persian leopards inhabiting in Dena National Park, located in southwestern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, the provincial department of environment chief, has announced.

Persian leopards’ natural reproduction turned unsuccessful

TEHRAN – A Persian leopard couple’s hormonal interventions to mate naturally at Tehran Zoological Garden for conservation purposes has turned out to be unsuccessful, YJC reported on Saturday.

National program for leopard conservation to be implemented

TEHRAN – A national leopard conservation plan which was developed some four years ago, will be implemented in the country by the Department of Environment (DOE), Arezoo Sane’ei, director for Asian Leopard Specialist Society has said.

Camera traps picture Asiatic cheetah, Persian leopards in Semnan

TEHRAN – An Asiatic cheetah and three Persian leopards have been observed through camera traps in Shahrood county in north central Semnan province, Amir Abdous, the provincial department of environment chief, has announced.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Animals in captivity: Is there such a thing as a good zoo?

TEHRAN – The recent activities of Tehran Zoological Garden have sparked a heated debate between advocates of animal rights and zoo directors, on whether or not zoos endanger wildlife species for their own interests or they have educational and protective objectives.

Asiatic cheetah, Persian leopards observed in north central Iran

TEHRAN – An Asiatic cheetah and two Persian leopards have been spotted in Shahrood county in north central Semnan province, Amir Abdous, the provincial department of environment (DOE) chief has announced.

Persian Leopard cubs found dead in southwestern Iran

TEHRAN – Two Persian leopard cubs have been found dead in Choram county located in the southwestern province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, the provincial department of environment (DOE) chief has said.

Natural mating raises hope for Persian leopard conservation

TEHRAN – Two Persian leopards mated naturally for the first time at Tehran Zoological Garden on Wednesday and will breed by the next 100 days in case of reproductive success, Mehr news agency reported.

By Lachin Rezaian

Success in artificial insemination in Persian leopards may raise hopes for rare big cats: wildlife biologist 

TEHRAN — Mohammad Farhadinia, a post-doctoral research fellow at University of Oxford, said the new move to use artificial insemination to breed Persian leopards could raise hopes for conservation of big cats. 

Persian leopard to receive artificial insemination next week

TEHRAN – For the first time, a Persian leopard will undergo artificial insemination in Tehran Zoological Garden next week.

Leopard seen for 3rd time in 2 years in north-central Iran

TEHRAN – A leopard has been spotted for the third time within two years in Taleqan, a rural district located in Alborz province, north-central part of the country, ISNA reported on Sunday.

Leopard in snare escaped certain death, released back to wild

TEHRAN — A leopard caught in snare, in northern city of Galugah in Mazandaran province, was safely released and went back to wild with no lasting harms, Tasnim news agency reported.

Leopard cubs seen in north-central Iran

TEHRAN – Three leopard cubs have been spotted in Parvar protected area, north-central Semnan province, which is home to one-third of all species of mammals in Iran, Tasnim reported on Tuesday.

Leopard cub seized from smugglers 

TEHRAN — A three-month old leopard cub was seized from the smugglers on Wednesday and transferred to Pardisan Park rehabilitation center, Mehr news agency reported on Friday.

Leopards spotted for first time in Bakhtegan national park

TEHRAN — For the first time, three leopards have been spotted at the Bakhtegan national park in Neyriz city located in southern Fars province, Saeed Mahmoudi, the provincial department of environment chief has said.

By Farnaz Heidari

Threat poachers are posing to leopards

Poaching is a controversial term and the issue remains complicated. Scientists, environmentalists and most of animal lovers are concerned with poaching effects on different wildlife populations. But in a country such as Iran, the big challenge of conservation is linked with reliable data especially in the case of poaching.  

Insurance compensates for damages done by leopards

TEHRAN – The damages caused by leopards to 59 individuals bearing losses in 11 provinces have been compensated through insurance, said Ali Teymouri, the Department of Environment’s deputy director for hunting and fishing, Mehr reported.

Roudsar leopard dies in fight with hedgehog

TEHRAN — Persian leopard Arezoo, well-known for being named after her habitat in Roudsar, northern Iran, was found dead apparently after a fight with a hedgehog.

Roudsar leopard released back to wild

TEHRAN — A Persian leopard that had been severely injured by getting caught in snare in February was fully recovered and released back to wild on Sunday.

Leopard trapped in snare released back to wild

TEHRAN — A leopard which had been trapped in a snare and injured on May 12 in the Paband National Park, the northern Mazandaran province, was released back to wild last week, Iran Environment and Wildlife Watch website reported.

Hefty fine, insurance policy reduces leopard casualties in Iran

TEHRAN — Increasing the fine for killing leopards by 16 times to 800 million rials (nearly $20,000) and insuring the animals against any possible threat has resulted in fewer casualties in Iran, IRNA news agency reported.