Sergei Ivanov, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office and Chair of the Far Eastern Leopards Supervisory Board, said at the Eastern Economic Forum that the number of the Far Eastern leopards, which only recently was below 30, has nearly tripled. He said this major achievement was made possible by a public-private partnership.

“The number of Far Eastern leopards has reached 80. Our immediate plans will hopefully increase it to 100 or 120. Considerable funds have been allocated by the federal authorities and businesses for the conservation of the tiger and leopard populations,” Sergei Ivanov said.

He also said he hoped the construction of Russia’s first environmental tunnel for the movement of animals under a motorway would be completed by 2016. “The tunnel itself has been built. It will be good for animals and also for drivers because we’ll straighten the motorway and make it safer,” Mr Ivanov said.

Sergei Ivanov praised the attention given by American film actors Steven Seagal and Pamela Anderson to the economic forum in the Russian Far East and to environmental issues, and expressed gratitude to major Russian companies for their financial assistance to the autonomous non-profit organisation Far Eastern Leopards.