Persian Leopard

News: The Persian leopard is the last remaining Panthera species in Iran after the extinction of the Asiatic lion Panthera leo persica and the Caspian tiger Panthera tigris virgata.

About Persian Leopard

• The Persian leopard is also known as the Anatolian or Caucasian leopard.
• Scientific name: Panthera pardus tulliana
• Habitat: They are most commonly found in mountainous regions covered with forests, woodlands, and scrublands, with rocky outcrops and precipitous slopes.
• Distribution: They are a subspecies of leopard native to Western and Central Asia. 
  • Historically, their range extended from modern-day Turkey and the Caucasus across Iran into parts of Central Asia.
  • Today, their distribution has shrunk greatly and become fragmented, with over 70% of its original range lost.
  • The largest remaining population (about 500–700 individuals) is found in Iran.
  • Turkmenistan has the second-largest population, with up to 100 individuals remaining. 
  • They are currently present in countries across Southwest and Central Asia, including Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iraq (Kurdistan), Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia (North Caucasus), Turkiye, and Turkmenistan.
• Characteristics
  • Appearance: They have grayish, slightly reddish fur with large rosettes on the flanks and back, smaller ones on the shoulder and upper legs, and spots on the head and neck. 
  • Weight: Males can weigh up to 90 kg, while the slenderer females weigh up to 60 kg.
  • Behaviour: They are wide-ranging predator, with male individuals typically occupying large territories.
    • They are solitary and mostly active at night.
    • Both sexes mark their territories with scrapes on ridgetop trails and trees, scent markings, and droppings.
  • Diet: They are carnivores and their diet varies depending on their habitat.
• Ecological Role: They play a very important role in their native ecosystem because they control the numbers and health of the populations of their prey species.
• Threats
  • Habitat fragmentation
  • Poaching
  • Loss of natural prey
  • Conflict with humans
• Conservation status
  • IUCN Red List: Endangered