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FPWC's trap cameras in the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge recorded a
Caucasian leopard!
02-08-2013 17:49:16 | Armenia
The sensational video, which is the first recording of a rare
Caucasian leopard in Armenia since six years, was shot by a trap
camera in the night from June 30 to July 1 in a very remote area of
FPWC's Caucasus Wildlife Refuge. The refuge encompasses all in all
2000 hectares stretching along the border of Khosrov Forest State
Reserve in the vicinity of Urtsadzor village. FPWC maintains the
territory as a protected area with the support of VivaCell-MTS, the
British organization World Land Trust and the Dutch Committee of the
IUCN (IUCN NL). The Caucasus Wildlife Refuge is the only privately
managed protected area in the entire South Caucasus.
Today, in a press conference at `Hayeli' Press Club FPWC and
VivaCell-MTS presented the video as well as their joint conservation
efforts in the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge. The camera trap video does
not show the full body of the leopard but only the spotted tail of the
big cat as the camera starts recording only after a short delay of
approx. 5 seconds. But the FPWC rangers have again adjusted the trap
cameras along the probable track of the big cat and hopefully a video
showing the full animal will be soon recorded.
But the new video showing a glimpse of the secretive animal is not the
only proof for its presence in the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge. Already
since spring 2012 the FPWC rangers collected several samples of
leopard fur and faeces in the same area where now the video was shot.
The samples were genetically analysed in an Israeli laboratory
connected to Jerusalem Zoo with the result that they originated from a
Caucasian leopard (Pantera pardus saxicolor). Now the video recording
finally proves that a leopard has chosen FPWC's Caucasus Wildlife
Refuge as a safe haven offering an undisturbed natural habitat and
plenty of prey.
The video footage of the leopard as well as other video recordings
showing for example Bezoar goats, Syrian brown bears, Bearded
vultures, wolves, wild boars, foxes and many other species are a
tangible result of the joint efforts of FPWC and the organization's
partners since 2010. For three years the area is now under permanent
monitoring by rangers operating from a ranger station. Poaching,
grazing, illegal logging and any other negative human impact is
strictly prohibited. This efficient management approach bears fruits -
the Caucasus WildlifeRefuge provides a safe wildlife corridor in the
buffer zone of the Khosrov State Reserve with increasing wildlife
sightings in particular of large Bezoar goat herds. The latter is
extremely important as the presence of a leopard in the area is
closely linked to the availability of enough prey namely Bezoar goats.
According to estimations only 3 - 5 leopards still roam in Armenia
(some of them are migratory). Each leopard needs habitat of some
18,000 - 25,000 hectares, and their populations have been decimated by
poaching, and degradation of habitat caused by livestock grazing,
plant gathering and deforestation. The natural corridors now used by
the big cat are the Zangezur and Megri mountains in southern Armenia.
In a long term perspective FPWC in cooperation with VivaCell-MTS,
World Land Trust and IUCN NL strives to extend the successful
management approach of the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge to some of these
areas in order to save the Caucasian Leopard, Armenia's most
charismatic large carnivore, for future generations.
VivaCell-MTS (K-Telecom CJSC) is Armenia's leading mobile operator,
having the widest 2G/3.75G/4G network reach and spreading a wide range
of Voice and Data services all across Armenia. Having the best of the
Armenian people interest at heart since its launch on 1st July 2005
and in a short period of time VivaCell-MTS has managed to build a
nationwide network and a considerable customer base. VivaCell-MTS
drives innovation and aims at always being at the forefront of any
development serving the Armenian mobile communications market. For
more information, visit www.vivacell.am
* * *
Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS") is the leading telecommunications
group in Russia and the CIS, offering mobile and fixed voice,
broadband, pay TV as well as content and entertainment services in one
of the world's fastest growing regions. Including its subsidiaries,
the Group services over 100 million mobile subscribers. The Group has
been awarded GSM licenses in Russia, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Armenia
and Belarus, a region that boasts a total population of more than 200
million. Since June 2000, MTS' Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the
New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT). Additional information
about the MTS Group can be found at www.mtsgsm.com
News from Armenia and Diaspora - Noyan Tapan
- See more at: http://www.nt.am/en/news/184732/#sthash.duy1WqWl.dpuf
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Caucasian leopard!
02-08-2013 17:49:16 | Armenia
The sensational video, which is the first recording of a rare
Caucasian leopard in Armenia since six years, was shot by a trap
camera in the night from June 30 to July 1 in a very remote area of
FPWC's Caucasus Wildlife Refuge. The refuge encompasses all in all
2000 hectares stretching along the border of Khosrov Forest State
Reserve in the vicinity of Urtsadzor village. FPWC maintains the
territory as a protected area with the support of VivaCell-MTS, the
British organization World Land Trust and the Dutch Committee of the
IUCN (IUCN NL). The Caucasus Wildlife Refuge is the only privately
managed protected area in the entire South Caucasus.
Today, in a press conference at `Hayeli' Press Club FPWC and
VivaCell-MTS presented the video as well as their joint conservation
efforts in the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge. The camera trap video does
not show the full body of the leopard but only the spotted tail of the
big cat as the camera starts recording only after a short delay of
approx. 5 seconds. But the FPWC rangers have again adjusted the trap
cameras along the probable track of the big cat and hopefully a video
showing the full animal will be soon recorded.
But the new video showing a glimpse of the secretive animal is not the
only proof for its presence in the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge. Already
since spring 2012 the FPWC rangers collected several samples of
leopard fur and faeces in the same area where now the video was shot.
The samples were genetically analysed in an Israeli laboratory
connected to Jerusalem Zoo with the result that they originated from a
Caucasian leopard (Pantera pardus saxicolor). Now the video recording
finally proves that a leopard has chosen FPWC's Caucasus Wildlife
Refuge as a safe haven offering an undisturbed natural habitat and
plenty of prey.
The video footage of the leopard as well as other video recordings
showing for example Bezoar goats, Syrian brown bears, Bearded
vultures, wolves, wild boars, foxes and many other species are a
tangible result of the joint efforts of FPWC and the organization's
partners since 2010. For three years the area is now under permanent
monitoring by rangers operating from a ranger station. Poaching,
grazing, illegal logging and any other negative human impact is
strictly prohibited. This efficient management approach bears fruits -
the Caucasus WildlifeRefuge provides a safe wildlife corridor in the
buffer zone of the Khosrov State Reserve with increasing wildlife
sightings in particular of large Bezoar goat herds. The latter is
extremely important as the presence of a leopard in the area is
closely linked to the availability of enough prey namely Bezoar goats.
According to estimations only 3 - 5 leopards still roam in Armenia
(some of them are migratory). Each leopard needs habitat of some
18,000 - 25,000 hectares, and their populations have been decimated by
poaching, and degradation of habitat caused by livestock grazing,
plant gathering and deforestation. The natural corridors now used by
the big cat are the Zangezur and Megri mountains in southern Armenia.
In a long term perspective FPWC in cooperation with VivaCell-MTS,
World Land Trust and IUCN NL strives to extend the successful
management approach of the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge to some of these
areas in order to save the Caucasian Leopard, Armenia's most
charismatic large carnivore, for future generations.
VivaCell-MTS (K-Telecom CJSC) is Armenia's leading mobile operator,
having the widest 2G/3.75G/4G network reach and spreading a wide range
of Voice and Data services all across Armenia. Having the best of the
Armenian people interest at heart since its launch on 1st July 2005
and in a short period of time VivaCell-MTS has managed to build a
nationwide network and a considerable customer base. VivaCell-MTS
drives innovation and aims at always being at the forefront of any
development serving the Armenian mobile communications market. For
more information, visit www.vivacell.am
* * *
Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS") is the leading telecommunications
group in Russia and the CIS, offering mobile and fixed voice,
broadband, pay TV as well as content and entertainment services in one
of the world's fastest growing regions. Including its subsidiaries,
the Group services over 100 million mobile subscribers. The Group has
been awarded GSM licenses in Russia, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Armenia
and Belarus, a region that boasts a total population of more than 200
million. Since June 2000, MTS' Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the
New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT). Additional information
about the MTS Group can be found at www.mtsgsm.com
News from Armenia and Diaspora - Noyan Tapan
- See more at: http://www.nt.am/en/news/184732/#sthash.duy1WqWl.dpuf
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress