Notes: The book was awarded at Iranian Youth Research and Innovation Competition, Book Authorship Section (2010).
Analysis of leopard status in Iran (No. 1) presents findings of a country-wide research conducted by the author in Iran from 2002-2006. Results presented here signify the first research of its kind to illustrate status of the Persian leopard in its current distribution range in the country.
The book is originally in the Persian language and under international copy right rules. The book is consisted of 14 chapters mainly cover following subjects:
(i) Leopard distribution range in various provinces of Iran in both protected and un-protected areas in Iran, (ii) leopard habitat types and co-existed species, (iii) biometry, (vi) morphology, (v) main threats to the Persian leopard in Iran on the basis of its current distribution in the country. The book is a part of the author’s thesis submitted to Azad University of Tehran in 2004 and then published as the first edition in 2005. However, data collection was continued from 2004-2006, thus, the content was updated and published in the current (2nd) edition, 2007. Researches (i.e. 2002-2006) and publications of the first and second editions were financially supported by Behshahr Kar Co., Tehran. The book was awarded by Research and Innovation section (book authorships) of the Iranian Youth Festival, 2010. The Persian leopard status described here could be used as the basis to conduct further studies in its current range in the country.
Abstract: Very little is known about the leopard (Panthera pardus) in Malaysian tropical rainforests, particularly in a human-dominated and highly fragmented habitat after incidence of rapid deforestations. The objective of this study was to understand the impacts of disturbance factors on the leopard habitat use in a highly fragmented forest within Malaysia’s capital agglomeration. We collected detection/non-detection data for leopards, four anthropogenic factors namely construction, deforestation, plantation and settlements and one feral species(i.e. stray dog) from February 2008 for duration of 13 months. We used Jacob’s preference Index to examine the effect of human disturbance factors on leopard presence/absence in various parts of the study area. Spearman Correlation Coefficient was used to examine the possible correlation between presence of stray dogs and leopards. Jacob’s preference index demonstrates leopards prefer forested areas rather than more open environments in the vicinity.Furthermore, most ignorance of leopards was shown to the construction activities have taken place in the study area. In contrast, northern parts of the forest with less human factors are mostly preferred by the species. Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed a highly negative significant correlation between the presence of leopards and stray dogs in the transect lines.Since leopards are the top predators of this fragmented forest, this study could be used to promote practices of sustainable conservation and environmentally friendly forest management.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to estimate the population size of common leopard
(Panthera pardus) in Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve in Selangor, Malaysia. Long term survival of
leopard population in this area is threatened due to small size of the forest, isolation and
presence of various disturbances in the habitat. However, no estimates are available on the
number of leopard in the study area. We used unsupervised classification of pugmarks that
allows clustering of the data sets based on their inherent similarities. Study was conducted
during February to November 2008. Linear measurements of front and hind tracks and strides
(n = 124) were classified using hierarchical cluster and discriminant analysis which indicated
that at least four individuals of leopard were present in the study area of 1,411 ha. Despite the
small size of the forest, the area is still rich in both fauna and flora. The leopard being the
predator, has an important role in maintaining the health of the ecosystem. Therefore, the
population size of the leopard could be used as indicator of sustainable conservation and
management of the species in the area.
Abstract: A study concerning prey availability for Malayan leopard (Panthera pardus delacouri Pocock 1930) in a highly fragmented secondary forest, namely: Ayer Hitam Forest Reservelocated in Selangor, Malaysia was conducted from February 2008 to March 2009. The mainobjectives of this study were to investigate (i) a priori unknown leopard potential preyspecies existed in the study area and (ii) occupancy status of a priori known leopard potentialpreys with regard to the presence of anthropogenic factors in the habitat. Findings suggestedthat leopards in Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve feed mainly on Eurasian wild pig (Sus scrofa)supplemented by macaque and lesser mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus). Occupancy anddetection probabilities for wild boar, macaque and mouse deer were relatively high indicatingthat there is no evidence of lack of prey sufficiency in the study area. Moreover, there is a highprobability of encountering prey species for each leopard individual throughout the forest.We identified four active anthropogenic disturbance factors in the study area (i.e. plantation,construction, deforestation and presence of indigenous and local settlements). Constructionactivities had the most profound effect on occupancy status of wild boar and macaque whilemouse deer was mostly affected by deforestation activities. This study indicated that althoughthere is little concern regarding prey sufficiency, lack of space and presence of activeanthropogenic disturbances are the most critical factors in determining leopard populationviability in the study area.
Abstract: A study was conducted in 67 protected areas throughout the Islamic Republic of Iranfrom 2002 to 2006 to investigate diversity and composition of the Persian leopard potentialprey species over its distribution range in the country. The study was performed concurrentlywith leopard distribution studies using direct observations, rapid survey techniques andcollection of secondary data. Nine species, namely: wild goat (Capra aegagrus), wild sheep(Ovis orientalis), Persian gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), chinkara or jebeer gazelle (Gazellabennettii), wild pig (Sus scrofa), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus),Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) and Persian wild ass (Equus onager) were studiedas the leopard potential prey species. Although attack of leopard on the Persian wild ass isrecorded, we excluded the species from the results due to its limited distribution range.Results indicated that wild goat and wild sheep followed by wild pig and Indian crestedporcupine are the most widely distributed potential prey species in the leopard distributionrange in Iran. Moreover, leopard presence is highly correlated with presence of the wild goatand wild sheep. Nevertheless, opportunistic predation on smaller species such as hare androdents is likely as leopard has a diverse diet. Eleven sites are proposed as the most considerablesites with regard to the diversity of prey communities. It is suggested that a leopard nationalconservation plan is essential to protect the leopard particularly as an umbrella species in itscurrent proposed distribution range. However, the priorities in allocation of resources couldbe given to the sites have been identified through this study to have the most diverse preycommunities (i.e. Golestan, Jahan Nama, Parvar, Touran, Khosh Yeilagh, Sorkheh Hesar,Kavir, Sarigol and Salook).
Abstract: This study is a new attempt to identify the latest distribution pattern of the Persianleopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor Pocock 1927) in its entire range in Iran. Furthermore, thepaper aimed to analyse the climatic factors in the current range of the leopard in the country.The study was performed in 138 sites (56 protected areas, 34 non-protected areas and48 meteorology stations) throughout the country for a duration of four years starting in 2002using rapid survey techniques and collection of secondary data. A total of 74 protected andnon-protected areas are reported here as the leopard detection sites in the country. Althoughleopards have a wide distribution in Iran, results indicate that 69% of them are found in thenorthern part where a large tract of forests is regarded as one of the most important habitatsfor leopards in the country. In general, the leopards are mostly found in habitats with 0 to 20days per year of ice cover and 58% of its identified range in the country have 3,100-3,600sunny hours per annum. Leopards inhabit a wide range of temperature, i.e. from -23.10 to+49.40 ºC however, they are more often found in areas with temperature of 13 to 18 ºC. Themajority (66%) of leopard distribution areas receive more than 200 mm of rain per year.Findings of this research would help the researchers in conducting further regional studies inthe leopard distribution range described in this paper. It is also recommended that occupancymodeling on a regional scale should be conducted where leopards are present.
Abstract: Here we report a probable first evidence of jungle cat Felis chaus from Malaysia. A
specimen thought to be a jungle cat was frequently detected in a highly fragmented
secondary forest from February 2008 until April 2009, while a study on the status of the
leopard Panthera pardus was undertaken.
