The right to name the Far Eastern leopard Leo 13 was given to the researchers from the Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve, which will mark 80 years since its establishment this year.

The ceremony to present the Leopard Keeper certificate took place during the reserve's anniversary celebrations. Dmitry Gorshkov, director of the Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve, received the certificate and a photo of Leo 13 from Land of the Leopard Director Tatyana Baranovskaya.

"Having a leopard named Sikhote-Alin in the national park is a sign of our respect and willingness to cooperate with our colleagues. Furthermore, we hope the life of Leo 13 will be as long and interesting as the history of its keeper, the Sikhote-Alin Reserve. We congratulate our colleagues on the reserve's anniversary and wish them success in all spheres," Tatyana Baranovskaya said.

The Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve staff said they were surprised but happy to be given this present.

As of late, many caring people have become Far Eastern leopard keepers and give names to them. In June, the Far Eastern leopard known as Leo 29, the VTB United League’s mascot, was named Buba to honour the basketball player Yevgeny Baburin. In early September, American actor Steven Seagal, who attended the Eastern Economic Forum, became the keeper of the female leopard Leo 16F and named her Queen Borte.