A Far Eastern leopard first recorded on video after crossing the Trans-Siberian Railway and a federal motorway has been named Casanova, which means “new home” (from the Italian “casa nova”).

The right to choose the name was given to wildlife photographer Igor Metelsky, who captured footage of the spotted predator using camera traps at the Severnaya hunting farm in the Nadezhdinsky District of the Primorye Territory. 

Leopards have not been spotted for more than 50 years in this area. The predator covered a distance of about 40 km from the core of the world’s only wild population in Land of the Leopard National Park. Thus, Casanova has begun the process of returning the rarest leopards to their original territories. Scientists also assigned him a personal identification number – Leo 224M.

“I am grateful to Land of the Leopard for giving me the opportunity to name the animal. It seems to me that Casanova, which literally translates as ‘new home,’ will suit him perfectly. Moreover, a more traditional translation suggests that he will have good luck with female leopards in his new home,” said Igor Metelsky.