The latest in a series of comprehensive Far Eastern Leopard expeditions organised by the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Ecology and Evolution (IPEE) has concluded. The programme to study, preserve and rehabilitate the Far Eastern leopard is an independent project pursued by the standing expedition of the Russian Academy of Sciences with the support of the Russian Geographical Society.

Zoologists from the IPEE managed to put satellite collars on several adult Far Eastern leopards named Uzor, Slavyanka, Sofia, Hasan and Safar during their expedition to the Leopard Wildlife Preserve and the Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve in August-November 2011.

Expedition members have surveyed the Barabashevka River valley in the Leopard Wildlife Preserve. Once they discovered fresh leopard tracks, researchers began preparations for catching and tagging the animals. The leopards were immobilised and researchers took samples of genetic material for further lab testing. Researchers are now able to track four animals in real time using satellite maps.

The young female named Sofia lives in a privately-owned deer park. Researchers believe that she has cubs. Zoologists can now determine how many deer a leopard needs to kill to feed itself and its young. This information is critical to preserving the Far Eastern leopard’s habitat.

Camera traps have been installed in the Leopard Wildlife Preserve to take pictures of each leopard and track movements of Slavyanka and other tagged leopards. The first pictures have already been taken, confirming that all tagged leopards are doing well.