Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov signed a resolution approving a reintroduction programme for Far Eastern leopards in the Primorye Territory. Under the programme, animals rescued from extinction and currently inhabiting Land of the Leopard National Park will be relocated to the Ussuri Nature Reserve and surrounding areas.

The document describes key measures for returning these endangered wild cats to the territories where they were exterminated in the 20^th century. The animals will be reintroduced through translocation, a method of soft release into a nature reserve for animals removed from wild nature. The project also provides for stimulating the natural dispersal of the leopards in new areas as their population increases.

“The Far Eastern leopard is a unique wild cat whose population is on the rise and has grown almost three times over in the past decade. Far Eastern leopards are among 13 species prioritised by the Environment National Project. The programme is an important aspect of conserving one of the world’s rarest predators,” the minister said.

Expected to launch this spring, the project will be supervised by experts from the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Land of the Leopard, with support from the Far Eastern Leopards autonomous non-profit organisation. The long-term goal is to build a new population of at least 25 animals in the species’ historical range in southern Sikhote-Alin, including the Ussuri Nature Reserve operated by Land of the Leopard.

“The translocation method requires meticulous preparation to alleviate risks. We consider the age and sex composition, the reproductive status and health of the animals. Therefore, we have engaged highly qualified zoologists in this project. It is expected that Leo 260M, rescued in mid-2021, will be among the first reintroduced leopards. He is to be released from the rehabilitation centre in August when he turns 18 months, the age of maturity and independence for leopards,” Viktor Bardyuk, director of Land of the Leopard, stressed.

The Far Eastern leopards will be released into the areas of the nature reserve with the most suitable protective conditions for these wild cats, including a dense population of sika deer and roe deer.

The programme approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment also includes plans to create an environmental corridor between Land of the Leopard National Park and the Ussuri Nature Reserve, which is necessary to prevent the isolation of the reintroduction territory from the core population in the national park. A new specially protected natural area of regional importance will serve as the corridor and ensure the preservation of wildlife habitats that connect populations.