Tuesday, Mar 19 2024
All Cities
Choose Your City
'Lake Baikal, where the ice queen cast her spell'
0

Caught on camera! Stunning picture of one of only 80 of the rarest big cats living in wild

By 0 and 0 and 0
16 October 2017

0

The scientists have been for a long period seeking to 'catch' a leopard at this spot with a magnificent background of mountain cliffs, and finally did so. Picture: Land of the Leopard

The stunning image is the pride of the Land of the Leopard nature reserve in the Russian Far East has been sent as an entry in the 2017 PhotoTrap Russian competition.

Only around 80 of these big cats survive in their natural habitat in the wild due to excessive hunting and poaching during the 20th century. 

Now, though, numbers are rising thanks to measures to protect the vulnerable cats. 

At one point after the fall of the Soviet Union numbers were as low as 30. 

Photo monitoring is currently the main method of studying the population and quantity of the Siberian leopards. 

The park's experts unanimously declared this to be the best ever taken during five years since the park was established. 

Caught on camera! Stunning picture of one of only 80 of the rarest big cats living in wild
Other pictures show two leopards romping on their territory. Picture: Land of the Leopard


The scientists have been for a long period seeking to 'catch' a leopard at this spot with a magnificent background of mountain cliffs, and finally did so.

'This is a unique image due to how stunning the landscape is and that the camera caught a leopard in full. We never had pictures like this,' said Viktor Storozhuk, monitoring systems engineer at the reserve. 

Other pictures show two leopards romping on their territory. 

Currently scientists are identifying the leopard from the image. 

For our readers who read Russian, you can vote here.

Voting is open until 25 December 2017, and results will be announced on 29 December 2017.

Other photo traps pictures taken at the Land of the Leopard Reserve
Caught on camera! Stunning picture of one of only 80 of the rarest big cats living in wild


Caught on camera! Stunning picture of one of only 80 of the rarest big cats living in wild


Caught on camera! Stunning picture of one of only 80 of the rarest big cats living in wild

Comments (7)

lets just hope no poachers or other gun crazy idiots will find out where these beautiful cats are living. it would be a pity to see tthe pelt end up as carpet before a chimney or the bones in a medicine pot.
Benedikt MORAK, Moscow
20/10/2017 23:04
5
0
Amazingly beautiful!!! The animals, the scenery - it is incredible! No one here in the west would believe that leopards live in freedom (!) in Russia
William McLean, copenhagen
20/10/2017 22:51
4
0
What beautiful cats! I am sooooo glad the numbers of these beautiful animals is going up! I pray that when people find out where they are, they won't rush there and spoil the forward progress!
Camille R., Burney, CA USA
19/10/2017 13:09
7
0
Absolutely STUNNING!
Russians should be so proud to have these magnificent creatures in their country. But how scary that only 80 remain in the wild. PLEASE realize just how precious they are and protect them so they can prosper! Thank You for sharing!
Denine, Washington State, USA
17/10/2017 08:25
10
0
What a privelege to seeing these precious gorgeous leopards. I am glad they are still around, and will be all of the time. I love all animals, but my favorite is big cats.
Ruth, USA
17/10/2017 07:40
8
0
Wow how lucky you are to have such magnificent animals. I hope they are left to continue breeding.
Siberia is on my bucket list, I will visit one day!!!
Donna, Wales, UK
16/10/2017 23:51
11
0
So wonderful to hear this good news about such beautiful animals. People should leave them alone so that they may prosper, too. There is surely enough room for all. Having visited Siberia I know there is plenty of space there
Patricia Gothard, Laguna Woods CA USA
16/10/2017 23:22
11
1
1

Add your comment

We welcome a healthy debate, but do not accept offensive or abusive comments. Please also read 'Siberian Times' Privacy Policy

Name

Town/Country

Add your comments

The views expressed in the comments above are those of our readers. 'Siberian Times' reserves the right to pre-moderate some comments.

Control code*

Type the code

* obligatory


News

Business

The Bank of Russia official exchange rates of foreign currencies
EUR100.24USD91.98GBP117.19Other...