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Wild Persian Leopards Make a Roaring Comeback in Russia’s Mountains
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Wild Persian Leopards Make a Roaring Comeback in Russia’s Mountains

The World Wildlife Fund in Russia has been reintroducing wild Persian leopards to the country's Caucasus Mountains. And they're thriving.

International

A pair of Persian leopards, a species that numbers less than 50 individuals in the Russian Federation, have been released as part of a WWF captive breeding program to try and revitalize a declining species.

Kodor (male) and Laba (female) were born and brought up in a special leopard breeding and training center in Sochi National Park, which was established in the Caucasus Mountains back in 2009.

They were released as adults, having learned indepedence, hunting skills, and socialization within the safety of captivity to ensure they stand a chance at surviving long enough to help the species recover.

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“Kodor and Laba successfully passed all the exams, so we have no doubt that they will adapt perfectly to the natural environment. Taking into account that two males (Akhun and Artek) are already living on the territory of the Caucasus Reserve, and another one was released today, we hope that this year a pair can be formed that will bring the first kittens born in the wild,” said Dmitriy Gorshkov, Director of WWF-Russia.

This is the organization’s third successful reintroduction of leopards into the Caucasus, but it was a record that wouldn’t last long, as merely five days later, on August 25th, two more charismatic felines lept from wooden cages into the Russian wilderness.