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Status of the Leopard in the Caucasus

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Status of the Leopard in the Caucasus Status of the Leopard in the Caucasus Victor Lukarevsky1, Mujigit Akkiev2 Elshad Askerov3, Ali Agili4, Emre Can5, Zurab Gurielidze6, Anatoliy N. Kudaktin7, Alexander Malkhasyan8 and Yuriy A. Yarovenko9 1 Institute of Problems of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Science, [email protected] 2 Kabarda-Balkarian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Science, [email protected] 3 WWF Branch Office in Azerbaijan, [email protected] 4 Leopard Conservation Society, Iran, [email protected] 5 WWF Turkey & WSPA International, Ankara, Turkey, [email protected] 6 Director Tbilisi Zoo, Georgia, [email protected] 7 Sochi University, Kavkazskiy Zapovednik, [email protected] 8 WWF Armenia, [email protected] 9 Dagestan Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Science, [email protected] There has been a huge decline in the former range of the leopard in the Caucasus, which is estimated to have once covered the whole region, except for steppe areas. More recent surveys, including those conducted by WWF since 2001 and others, based on searches for field signs, camera trapping and questionnaires have clarified the situation to some degree. These surveys have confirmed some surviving nuclei and identified possible sites and promising areas for further survey. The largest populations in the ecoregion survive in Iran, which seems to be a stronghold for the leopard in the region. The current presence of leopards in NE Turkey is not confirmed. Leopards have disappeared from the western part of the Greater Caucasus and are known from very few localities in the east. A few occurrences are known in the Lesser Caucasus, including Khosrov reserve and the mountain ridges along the border between south Armenia and Azerbaijan. Exi- sting sites are fragmented and estimated numbers are very low, even down to a single animal in one case. Tentative estimates indicate not more than 15 leopards in the Greater Caucasus and up to 50 in the Lesser Caucasus and Iran. The viability of these small remnants, and the extent to which they are dependent on immigration from Iran is not known. Assessing the status and the trend of a published reports. In recent years, sev- Methods population is the obvious first step to- eral field surveys based on traditional The main methods used to confirm the wards its conservation. In the case of the field techniques were carried out, main- presence of leopard in the Caucasus leopard in the Caucasus, this is however ly on behalf of WWF, and researchers were compiling information from local a challenging endeavour. There can be have started to use camera traps and people and systematic search for field no doubt that the leopard is highly en- ventured into molecular and chemical signs (Lukarevsky 2003, Lukarevsky dangered – this was already the verdict methods to generate confirmed leopard et al. 2004a). Such signs are footprints, of Heptner & Sludskij (1972) for the presence data. These efforts have pro- scrapes, scats and urine marks. Detec- early 1970s and has been corroborated duced some spectacular, though mostly tion of signs depends on the observer’s by all subsequent reviews – but how anecdotal results. The vast extent of experience, but also on vegetation, sub- many leopards are left, where exactly, the Caucasian range and the arduous strate, and humidity. Blurred signs of and whether the nuclei are still viable or access of remote areas make a system- any of the larger carnivores (e.g. brown not is matter of debate and speculation. atic survey or a continued monitoring bear, wolf, hyena) can be confused with Leopards are elusive animals living a very difficult task, even without con- leopard, but for distinct cat footprints in at very low densities in remote and of- sidering the organisational and logistic the Caucasus, only large Eurasian lynx ten hardly accessible areas. Marginal or challenge arising from the fact that six overlap in size with small leopards. The non-existing capacity in wildlife man- different countries share the eco-region. most distinct sign for the species are agement and research in all Caucasian In this article, we summarise recent re- the scrapes made by the hind paws and countries are responsible for a shortage views, surveys, and field research. As about 35 – 50 cm long (Fig. 1). In Au- of data and limited understanding. Re- none of the surveys were exhaustive, gust and September 2001 a first series cent reviews of the status of the leopard we present and discuss not only con- of 32 transects with a total length of 419 in the Caucasus suffer from the lack of firmed, but also possible occurrences. km were carried out (Lukarevsky et al. reliable information and are often based In addition, we indicate which areas 2004a) in Armenia (14 routes, 190 km), on unconfirmed or anecdotal reports. outside the known or probable present Georgia (7 routes, 100 km) and Azerba- Many of these observations are impos- distribution areas of leopards in the ijan (11 routes, 129 km). A follow-up sible to judge and seem to have been Caucasus might be promising for fur- survey took place in July and August included over-enthusiastically into the ther survey work. 2003 in Armenia and Azerbaijan (Lu- CAT News Special Issue 2 – Caucasus Leopard 15 Table 1. Leopard field surveys (transects) in the Caucasus done by V. Lukarevsky and co-workers from 2001–2005. Transects: total = number of transects made; pos = number of transects with leopard signs; length = sum of kilometer walked, ridden or driven. Year Country Period Area Transects total pos length 2001 AM 25.07.–10.08. Khosrov NR 14 7 190 AZ 15.08.–06.09. Talysh, Zangezur 6/7 2/2 129 GE 15.–23.09. Assa river, S of Ingushetia 7 0 100 2002 RU 06.–18.08. Greater Caucaus (Kabardino-Balkariya, Karachaevo-Cherkesiya, 14 0 205/500 Kavkazskiy zapovednik) AZ 28.05. Talysh Mountains (excursion) 1 1 15 AM 22.–23.05. Hosrov – Meghri (excursion) 1 7 AM 11.–22.10. Meghri, Hosrov 7 1 85 2003 AM 17.–29.07. Nyuvadi, Meghri 8 1 97+ AZ 02.–15.08. Talysh, Nakhichevan, Zangezur 8 3 156+ 2004 AM 10.–20.08. Khosrov, Meghri, Shikahoh, Zangezur 9 4 135 GE 30.07.–06.08. Greater Caucasus (Tushetiya) 4 2 57 IR 25. –26.4. Lisar PA, Arasparan PA, Kiamaki PA, Marokan PA 9 64 106/400 TR Ikizdere and Sivirikaya, basin of Choroh (Ĉoroch) river 70 60 (Kiliçkaya, Cevreli, Yusufeli) RU 07.–22.10. Greater Caucasus (Dagestan) 9 2 103/370 2005 RU 03.–15.07. Greater Caucasus (Kabardino-Balkariya, Kavkazskiy 0 >200 zapovednik) AZ 5.–15.05. Zakatala PA, Ilisu PA, Ahar-Bahar range 7 2 123/250 karevsky 2003), with 8 routes each in 2004b). Additional field surveys were era trapping has produced positive re- Armenia and Azerbaijan, of which 3 in done in Iran (January/February 2004) sults in three places (AM, AZ and GE) the Talysh Mountains (southeast AZ, in the Russian part of Dagestan (No- so far, but was not applied in a manner bordering IR), and 5 in the Nakhchyvan vember 2004), on the Iori-Mingechaur allowing a quantitative assessment. Ra- enclave (Table 1). The fieldwork was plateau (May 2005), and in Talysh and dio telemetry has never been used to done by V. Lukarevsky and a number Akhar-Bakhar ranges, in Nakhchyvan study leopards in the Caucasus ecore- of local co-workers on behalf of WWF and in southern Armenia (Meghri ridge; gion. and compiled in several internal reports March 2007). In the Russian part of and summarised in an unpublished draft the Caucasus, a questionnaire survey Status of the leopard in the Caucasus conservation strategy (Lukarevsky et al. was carried out. Some 4,500 question- Historic distribution naires were distributed, including 1,000 Heptner & Sludskij (1972) have recon- in Chechnya and Ingushetia. However, structed the historic distribution of the only about 80 were returned, and only leopard in the Caucasus (Fig. 1). The an insignificant number of respondents range covered the whole of the Great- passed on information that was previ- er and Lesser Caucasus except steppe ously not available. The results present- and semi-desert areas. Considering the ed here are based, if not stated other- habitat south of the border of the Soviet wise, on these reports and the summary. Union, the species was probably wide- Additional transect surveys were done spread in the mountains of northern Tur- by Khorozyan et al. (2005) in 2004 in key and Iran. “By the 1950s to the 1960s Khosrov (94 km) and in Shvanidzor- the range of leopards in the Caucasus Nuvadi (95 km) areas of Armenia with had shrunk greatly, the population of the intention to collect leopard scats. the animal became negligible, and actu- During the field surveys, local peo- ally on the brink of total extinction.” By ple were interrogated. Information gath- 1950, Heptner and Sludskij (1972) in- ered that way was often included into dicate only three remaining nuclei (Fig. the reports, but so far never systemati- 2), with still decreasing tendency: “On cally analysed and compiled. There is the whole, by the middle and end of the no comprehensive large-scale survey 1960s leopards had already practically based on standardised interviews avail- disappeared or were passing through Fig. 1. The typical sign left by leopards are able that would allow assessment of the their last days in the Trans-Caucasus scrapes made by the hind paws (Photo V. potential presence of the leopard based and the Little Caucasus. They still oc- Lukarevsky). on the knowledge of local people. Cam- cur, though very rarely, at places where 16 2007 there are several tributaries from Iran, i.e.
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