YEREVAN. – Since 2002, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has been implementing a conservation project on Caucasian leopards in Armenia, thanks to which this animal not only returned to the country, but its number grew.

Within the framework of the Caucasian Leopard Conservation Project, WWF-Armenia launched the Leopard Caretakers Network Project, which aims to unite the society, international organizations, private and public sectors to strengthen conservation mechanisms of leopards and their prey species (Bezoar Goat, Armenian Mouflon, Roe Deer, etc.), informed the WWF-Armenia Public Relations Department.

For this objective, WWF has chosen environmentalists from the leopard habitat-adjacent communities, who will carry out intensive monitoring and field surveys in this habitat, to increase the safety level of animals.

All the caretakers have passed special trainings and practical workshops as well as received all necessary equipment for the respective fieldwork.

Educational activities also have been launched to present to the public the importance of leopards’ existence for Armenian wildlife, and its major threats.