Distribution and human‐caused mortality of Persian leopards Panthera pardus saxicolor in Iran, based on unpublished data and Farsi gray literature

Abstract

Gray literature and data from unpublished sources can provide important scientific information that has not been published scientifically. The Persian leopard (hereafter leopard) Panthera pardus saxicolor is classed as endangered on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and also is one of the least‐studied subspecies of leopard. It occurs in the Caucasus and Central and Southwest Asia. Iran contains more than 75% of the leopard's extant range, and the leopard population in this country serves as a source for neighboring countries. In this study, we determined the distribution and human‐caused mortality of leopards in Iran, by reviewing unpublished data and Farsi gray literature (which includes government reports) between 1 January 2010 and 30 December 2018. We created the most recent distribution map of the leopard in Iran. Our data display that human‐caused mortality of leopard in Iran mostly includes poaching and intentional poisoning, and roadkill.

Habitat suitability and connectivity implications for the conservation of the Persian leopard along the Iran–Iraq border

“…The Persian leopard has a moderate tolerance to human presence (Ahmadi et al., 2020 ; Soofi et al., 2019 ). They might approach villages and croplands at times to chase livestock and domestic dogs, which results in the human–leopard conflict (Babrgir et al., 2017 ; Naderi et al., 2018 ; Parchizadeh & Adibi, 2019 ). Rivers provide the Persian leopard water and facilitate its predation due to the higher prey diversity and abundance around riversides.…”

Monitoring of the Wild Mammal Fauna in Bamo Mountain in Northern Iraq (Kurdistan) for the First Time Using Camera Trap Method and Raising Awareness for Its Conservation

“…Raza et al, 2012) or from the western Iranian populations (e.g. Moqanaki et al, 2013;Parchizadeh and Adibi, 2019;Farhadinia et al, 2019). It is very important to conduct further surveys to find out the exact numbers and population size of the Persian leopards in Bamo Mountain and adjacent areas.…”

Brown bear and Persian leopard attacks on humans in Iran

“…[60] which overlaps with brown bear range and may result in increased incidents [40]. In contrast, most leopard incidents occurred in the Alborz Mountains (northern provinces), perhaps due to the leopards' greater occurrence in this region [30,42]. Substantial and widespread land use changes have occurred in northern provinces of Iran recently [61][62][63].…”

“…ciscaucasica = P.p. saxicolor) occur Iran, specifically in the Alborz and Zagros Mountains, which comprise more than 75% of this subspecies current range [30]. A primary reason for human-leopard conflicts is linked to the extent to which leopards kill livestock and dogs [31].…”