OREANDA-NEWS. On May 21, 2007 WWF-Russia and "Rosa Khutor" launched a project, supported by the Russian Ministry of Nature Resources and Russian Federal Natural Resource Oversight Agency (Rosprirodnadzor), aimed at reintroducing the Persian leopard in the Northern Caucasus. The project will become the first WWF-Russia conservation project that is mostly sponsored by Russian businesses, as it is sponsored not only by "Rosa Khutor", but also by Russian mobile operator Vympelcom (Beeline), reported the press-centre of Interros.


The Persian leopard, Panthera pardus tulliana, once inhabited almost all of the Caucasus. However, the population declined drastically in late 19th - early 20th centuries. Only a few leopards now inhabit the most remote places of the Russian Caucasus. The number of leopards here is too small for the species to reproduce itself; only occasional ‘visits’ of the Persian leopards from bordering countries help to maintain the population. Therefore, natural restoration of the leopard here is impossible; only reintroduction can help return the species to the Northern Caucasus.


On May 24, the first stone of the pens will be laid in Sochi National Park. Animals from several zoos will be transported to the pens. The baby leopards born in the pens will become the founders of the new population.

 
"The goals we have set are challenging and the stakes are high, but we are glad that our idea of reintroducing the leopard in the Russian Caucasus has received support for the first time, not only moral, but financial support as well, from the Russian business", says Igor Chestin, WWF-Russian CEO.


"We were attracted by the uniqueness of this project", said Nina Zagorulko, director general of "Rosa Khutor". "Previously, there were no such projects for reintroduction of the vanishing species in the world practice. And we like the idea to lead not only in business or sports. Besides, the presence of leopards is believed to be a sign of a healthy region’s ecosystem. And this is very important for the development of ecotourism. All this complies with the concept, adopted by "Rosa Khutor", she added.