Trap-cameras in the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge (CWR) areas continue to fix the movement of the Persian leopard /Panthera pardus ciscaucasica/, indicating that the CWR has become a safe habitat for animals. The Persian leopard is a rare species animal registered in the Red Data Book of RA. The protection of this animal is extremely important today. The fact, that our rangers fix the animal’s movement already regulary, speaks of the fact that there is an animal feed base, all the conditions ensuring a safe environment.

By the Red Data Book information: The habitats for the animal are suit arid mountain grasslands, arid sparse forests, mountain grasslands, subalpine and alpine meadows on the southern slopes.

Biological traits: As snow cover is an important limiting factor, meadows are used only in the snowless season. Presence of hardly accessible rocky massifs is also a vital requirement, since they allow to hunt on the staple prey, bezoar goats, from ambush and contain numerous shelters. Leopards also prey upon the wild boar, roe deer, Indian crested porcupine and European hare. Caves, crevices and dense scrubs are used by leopards as shelters.

The Caucasus Wildlife Refuge (CWR), which  encompasses around 30,000 hectares, is the first privately  protected area in the South Caucasus. The CWR is managed by Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife & Cultural Assets (FPWC) since 2011. Being the habitat of a number of southern Caucasian species, the CWR territory is an area of crucial importance buffering Khosrov Forest State Reserve (IUCN Ia category). The refuge is a safe haven for many rare species, such as Brown bears, Bezoar goats, Armenian Vipers, Bearded Vultures and endangered Caucasian leopard.