LIVE LEOPARD IN THE WILD PHOTOGRAPHED FOR FIRST TIME IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. A live leopard was photographed
in its natural surroundings for the first time in Armenia. “This
photo proves once again the fact that not the panther, as the
locals often claim, but the Persian leopard is found in Armenia,”
Karen Malkhasian, director of the Wild World Fund’s (WWF) Caucasus
Program Office in Armenia, told NT correspondent. According to him,
this is the third case in the international practice that a leopard
has been photographed in the wild, and the picture’s authors – a WWF
expert Alexsander Malkhasian, the head of the Endangered Species Fund
Project Igor Khorozian and a member of the atipoaching brigade Mukuch
Boyajian are already accepting their colleagues’ congratulations. For
this unique type of leopard, the south of Armenia in particular the
Meghri mountain range is a natural environment, which extends as far
as the Azerbaijani and Iranian borders. Since 1999, various programs
on protection and studying of the leopard have been implemented in
Armenia. After examining the traces left such as remains of a hunt,
excrements, the hunting spots found, etc, the experts came to the
conclusion there are currently 5-7 leopards in the territory of
Armenia. “This means the leopard population is in a crisis situation
in Armenia, and the animal is vitually on the verge of extinction,”
A. Malkhasian believes. The photo of a live leopard was taken during
the latest expedition in March, 2005. “We have obtained an evidence
that the leopard started to lead a sedentary life in the territory
of Armenia,” K. Malkhasian pointed out. He expressed concern at the
fact that all efforts to protect the leopard might be futile. The fact
is that the construction of a 10-km wide alternative road is planned
through the Meghri mountaing range. According to the information in the
WWF’s possession, no ecological examination required in such cases has
been conducted, although the construction may lead to the destruction
of unique ecosystems and consequently to the loss of the leopard
population. “We are hopeful that those planning this construction
will realize how important it is to preserve the integrity of that
area, and the rare plant and animal species found there, which are of
universal value ,” K. Malkhasian said. As regards the construction of
strategically important communications, the WWF is ready to provide
all the necessary information so that the construction work will be
done with minimal damage to nature.