The fifth Russia’s Primeval Nature national festival opened at Moscow’s Central House of Artists on 26 January. A display dedicated to Far Eastern leopards was set up near the Central House of Artists’ entrance.

Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov, Chair of the Far Eastern Leopards Supervisory Board, opened the festival. In his greetings, Mr Ivanov noted that the festival’s agenda is full of various events as always, while its traditional photo exhibition is the key element of the festival.

“Having travelled through all of Russia, including its most remote areas, wildlife photographers are presenting their truly unique works here, in the centre of Moscow,” he said. “I know how these pictures are taken, and I always admire wildlife photographers for their patience, for their ability to wait for the right moment to snap an unforgettable picture.”

Russia’s Primeval Nature’s exhibition showcases unique pictures of animals from various Russian regions – foxes, Amur tigers, snow leopards, sables, lynx, bears and many others. At a display dedicated solely to Far Eastern leopards, visitors will be able to enjoy pictures of predators caught on camera in the wild and learn many interesting things about the rare cat and conservation efforts.

The festival’s opening ceremony also featured the commemorative cancellation of Russian Fauna postage stamps depicting woodpeckers and the awards ceremony for the winners of the Camera Trap 2017 national contest.

This year, Far Eastern leopards won in two categories: a shot of Queen Borte and her cub won the Best Photo of a Leopard category, and the video of the leopardess Bary with her litter won the Cats category. Land of the Leopard researchers Gleb Sedash and Pyotr Sonin received the awards: cameras for inspectors and a laptop.

The Russia’s Primeval Nature festival will run through 25 February, and then will tour other Russian and foreign cities for a year.