Tehran – Persian leopards are observed through cameras installed in Sefid Kuh, a protected area in western Lorestan.
The camera was the first Persian leopard in the area while drinking water from the trough, Isna reports.
The presence of leopards in this area known as umbrella species indicates dynamic ecosystems, completion of food chains, and habitat.
Security in protected areas is the result of effective measures taken by the State Department of Environment, the Department of Rangers, and the use of smart systems as well as the latest technology.
The Persian leopard (a subspecies of Pantera Pardus Saxicolour) is listed as at risk on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List due to overhunting and habitat destruction. The animals live in mountainous, forest and grassland areas of Iran.
According to the latest IUCN report, around 154 Iranian vertebrates are extremely at risk of extinction.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued an order mandating the Ministry of the Environment (DOE) to develop a strategic plan to preserve endangered species in the country.
“The country needs a comprehensive and operational plan in the environmental sector covering a variety of environmental sectors. It should include goals, assumptions, operational measures, financial resources and results,” the IRNA quoted as saying by the president.
mt/mg