Title
Status of the common leopard in Afghanistan
Author(s)
Moheb, Z.;Bradfield, D.
Published
2014
Publisher
Cat News
Abstract
For decades there had been no confirmed sightings of the common leopard Panthera pardusin Afghanistan. However in 2011, a Wildlife Conservation Society WCS cameratrap team working in the province of Bamyan managed to capture images of a Persian leopard P. p. saxicolor near the mountainous areas that make up the central highland region. With almost no accurate data on leopard numbers, population trendsremain unknown. Using these images during a wildlife field survey, local community residents in two other provinces reported the presence of the same leopard species. Years of conflict in Afghanistan have affected most large wildlife populations, including other big cats and leopard prey species, but its cryptic nature and adaptability have enabled it to persist. Despite being a protected species under Afghan law, leopards remain at very low numbers and under considerable threat.
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PUB15263