The Program for reintroduction of leopard population in the Caucasus is a unique project as long as the world practices has not seen any experience similar to such reinstatement of endangered animal species. Currently this leopard species (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica Satunin) is practically not encountered in the Northern Caucasus territories. Self-reintroduction of the Caucasian leopard population is unfeasible under existing situation. For this reason, the Program provides for reinstatement of a sustainable population of this leopard in captivity with subsequent reintroduction of the animals.
The Program pools efforts of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation (RF Minprirody), Sochi National Park, Caucasian State Natural Biosphere Reserve, A. N. Severtsov Institute for Problems of Ecology and Evolution of the RAS (Russian Academy of Sciences) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to restore and create viable population.
During implementation of the Program it is planned to undertake a set of the following activities:
- identification of territories most suitable for reintroduction of the leopard and carrying out necessary biotechnical arrangements at the sites of release;
- creating necessary conditions for breeding, adaptation and reintroduction of leopard;
- forminga group of the natural population foundersin captivity (it is planned subsequently to create a free self-reproducing leopard population numbering about 30 animals);
- arranging a system for permanent monitoring of created population;
- educational and awareness-building activities aimed at local population to advocate the importance of activities pursued in the framework of the Program;
- ensuring international cooperation around the leopard reintroduction problem.
Also, in the course of the Project activities it is planned to restore the population numbers of the hoofed mammals — the main feed of the leopard, a set of activities have been performed in order to enhance the forage resources for the hoofed animals, and the protection of the territory against poachers has been strengthened. These practical interventions will become an object lesson regarding what the 2014 Game may and should leave after they are finished. On top of that, it shall be possible to retain the diversity of unique nature of the Greater Sochi region for the present and the future generations.
