There are currently about 50 Far Eastern leopards in Russia, Sergei Ivanov said. Scientists have registered four new animals.

The Chief of the Presidential Staff recalled that the Land of the Leopard National Park was established in the Primorye Territory in April 2012. Its territory includes the main habitat areas of the remaining Far Eastern leopards.

Sergei Ivanov stressed that the efforts undertaken this year show that the Land of the Leopard project had produced its first positive results. He expressed gratitude to the management and employees of the national park for their dedication to the cause and also praised law-enforcement agencies for their untiring struggle against poachers. Over the past summer and autumn, park employees reported 352 violations, sent 24 cases to law-enforcement agencies and confiscated hundreds of unauthorised items of equipment.

Researchers have also been busy analysing data collected with the help of camera traps and radio and GLONASS satellite tracking collars. There are plans to conduct year-round studies of the park’s animals starting in February 2013.