Endangered leopard killed in Azerbaijan

/By AzerNews/

By Amina Nazarli

A leopard considered endangered and included in the "Red Book” [book of rare Azerbaijani animals and insects] of Azerbaijan was killed by a resident from the Astara region’s Sim village.

Twenty-year-old Natig Boyukzada was detained by the State Border Service, while he and his relative, 20-year-old Samad Faradjov, were en route to sell the leopard skin for 10,000-15,000 manat ($9,599 -$14,399) in the region’s Chukaz village.

Natig had previously admitted that, this August he was hunting for a wild leopard in the Astara region’s reserve. He skinned the animal after killing it and began to search for clients who would be interested in purchasing the animal fur.

Leopards are among the rarest and most endangered animals in the world. They are now listed in the "Red List" from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature not only in Azerbaijan, but also throughout the world.

The number of Caucasian leopards – announced by the IUCN in a report about animal species on the verge of extinction across the Middle East and Asia – is less than 1,000, while their number is around 25 in the southwestern part of the Caucasus region, on the border between Azerbaijan and Iran.

The protection of leopards requires special measures to protect this rare and endangered species of fauna.

This predatory beast is mostly found in Azerbaijan's Talysh Mountain, and the Zangazur, Karabakh and Nakhchivan mountain areas.

Over the past five years, different measures have been adopted in the country, including monitoring leopards and their eating habits, developing a strategy for removing obstacles and creating corridors, reducing risks as well as raising public awareness.

A project aimed at protecting Caucasian leopards was started by the WWF in 2002. Activities in the field of leopard protection lie within the "Big Five" program, which was initiated by Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Founder and Head of IDEA, Leyla Aliyeva. Covering the protection of five endangered species of fauna (bear, wolf, gazelle, eagle, and leopard) in the Caucasus, it has been successful so far.

The future of the Caucasian leopard took a step forward last year with the establishment of a conservation agreement between Panthera, the world's leading wild cat conservation organization, and the International Dialogue for Environmental Action (IDEA) of Azerbaijan.

The two sides were tasked with developing a plan to assess the living conditions of leopards in Azerbaijan in order to protect the species, which is on the verge of extinction.

Nevertheless, there are still those who, in the interests of business and profit, prey on these endangered animals. IDEA expresses its grave concern over the murder of the indigenous animal.

Along with measures carried out so far, IDEA calls on Azerbaijani citizens to protect the rich biodiversity and endemic species of Azerbaijani fauna and inform enforcement agencies about illegal acts that result in the destruction of endangered animals.