The latest data on the population of the Far Eastern leopard and achievements in preserving the rare feline were presented at the meeting of the Russian Geographical Society Board of Trustees in St Petersburg on 24 April. The meeting was chaired by President of Russia Vladimir Putin.

Preserving and studying rare animals, including Red Data Book Far Eastern leopards in Vorontsov Land of the Leopard, were among the meeting’s themes. Vladimir Putin praised the project’s success and the contribution of the Far Eastern Leopards autonomous non-profit organisation to the work on the conservation of the rare predator, carried out in partnership with Land of the Leopard National Park.

During the meeting, Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov informed Vladimir Putin about the work of the Far Eastern Leopards organisation, presented the latest data on the population of the rare feline and noted that these successes proved that active efforts taken to protect nature did help restore and increase populations of rare animals.

“In 2011, the Far Eastern Leopards autonomous non-profit organisation was established at the initiative of Sergei Ivanov,” Dmitry Peskov said. “Leopards feel great there. We are witnessing impressive growth of their population. In addition to Russia and China, leopards live in North Korea. When the organisation began its work, there were no more than 35 Far Eastern leopards. Now there are 113 of them: 91 adults and 22 cubs, and there are more females than males. This is the main proof that the population will continue to grow fast.”

The Russian Geographical Society (RGS) is a Russian public organisation established on 18 August 1845 in St Petersburg.