YEREVAN (RIA Novosti)–Armenia’s wild leopard population is in danger of extinction, according to the Armenian director of the World Wildlife Fund.
“These noble animals are under the threat of extinction,” Karen Manvelyan said, adding that only 5-7 leopards remain in Armenia today.
According to him, the main reason leading to the leopards’ extinction is poaching.
“Illegal hunting of rare species registered in the Armenian Red Data Book (RDBA), including Bezoar ibex, Armenian Mouflon sheep, and leopard, has not ceased,” Manvelyan said. He added that even the brown bear is hunted out of season.
Manvelyan believes poaching can be solved by creating nature conservation areas.
The conservationist said that Armenia’s recent decision to create two conservation areas in southern Armenia–Arevik National Park and Zangezur Sanctuary–might solve the problem of rare species extinction.
He said that more than 1,500 types of plants, including 24 registered in the RDBA and 19 endemics, around 245 species of vertebrates, including 49 registered in the RDBA and 12 in the IUCN Red Data List are located in the Arevik National Park.
Zangezur Sanctuary has also become an important conservation park for rare and threatened flora and fauna.
We must all do everything in order to save Bezoar ibex, Armenian Mouflon sheep, and leopard, these rare animals which are the treasures of Armenia.
Yes, I firmly believe that conservation park is a must in order to save and multiply them, and in time they could all become of interest to the thousand of tourist who will come to Armenia.
Armenia will go the same way as our precious leopard…. to extinction. The same guys who are for the protocols are the ones hunting, knowingly, species on the road to extinction. They break bread and toast glasses of Armenian brandy with their turkish businessmen friends and go hunting with them. A true Armenian would protect our precious country, protect the wildlife, the air, soil, water and health and economics of the Armenian citizenry and defend our ancestors and fight for our territorial imperative. All of these things go hand in hand. Anyone who hunts a leopard is just as much a traitor to Armenia as one who works for turkish interests, i.e. the protocols. God save us from these so called Armenians. Armenian in name only!
Common people…this can’t possibly be the first most important story in the column on Top Stories that you would want your readership reading about can it??? Obviously its important but top story????
Its placed above the report on canning the ARF bill and the dire health concern in Armenia over the Swine Flu not to mention the others….
Just a thought worth considering.
Authorities in Homeland,
Please, don’t let this tragedy happen.
awesome, i didn’t even know leopards existed in armenia. very informative.