Preliminary assessment of Chvizhepse and Sochi complex for potential recovery of Persian leopards

Abstract

During the realization of The Program for Reintroduction of the Leopard in the Caucasus in Russian Federation the mountain landscapes of the Western Caucasus within the boundaries of the historical habitat of the Pantera pardus saxicolor were explored. On the border of the Caucasian State Reserve and the Sochi National Park (Russia), we selected the area (50 km2) covered by mountain forests (95%). The most common tree species are: Fagus orientalis (40.9%), Quercus pubescence, Quercus petraea, Quercus iberica and Quercus hartwissiana (24.6%), Buxus colhica (1.4%), Castanea sativa (13.6%), Carpinus betulus and Carpinus orientalis (8.4%), and Alnus glutinosa (3.3%). We have revealed the presence of the following potential prey species: 3 individuals of Sus scrofa, 35 ones of Cervus elaphus maral, 20 – of Capreolus capreolus, and 12 – of Rupicapra rupicapra caucasica. Also we have noted that there are Lepus europaeus, Meles meles, Nyctereutes procyonoides, and Procyon lotor on the studied are. Based on the natural land’ capacity, the population density of potential prey species has growth potential. The results showed that the territory has a high potential not only for periodic visits, but also as one of the permanent habitats of the leopard.