| Persian leopard is the biggest subspecies of leopard. | | | | The elusive Persian Leopard resides in rugged |
| It is also one of the rarest. Also known as Iranian | | | | mountainous terrains in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, |
| Leopard, it is found in scattered numbers in a number | | | | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Georgia and |
| of countries extending from South Asia to Middle | | | | Russia. It is a secretive animal like all leopards and is |
| East, including some Central Asian states. A | | | | seldom seen in the wild. Residing in a combination of |
| particularly strong animal, the Persian Leopard, | | | | hilly and forested areas, it is a solitary feline that |
| Panthera Pardus Saxicolor, grows up to a height of | | | | faces a variety of threats in its natural habitat and is |
| near three feet and weighs as much as one hundred | | | | struggling to survive in nature. |
| and fifty pounds, in case of healthy adult males. | | | | The splendid cat has had to withstand a lot over the |
| Not much is documented about any unique physical | | | | years owing to the war torn conditions in its |
| attributes of this big cat. It is similar in appearance to | | | | geographical range. This along with poaching for fur, |
| other members of its species, with a tawny coat | | | | prize hunting, poisoning, wild fires and habitat and |
| marked with rosettes. It has seldom been | | | | prey loss has meant that there are fewer than |
| photographed in the wild and rarely studied in detail. | | | | thirteen hundred Persian Leopards in the wild today. |
| As a result not much is known about its behavior, | | | | Highest numbers are in Iran with around six to eight |
| hunting and reproductive profile, though the leopard is | | | | hundred animals reportedly existing. There are some |
| known to prey upon a variety of animals including | | | | conservation projects underway but the big cat is still |
| deer, goat, sheep, camel, dog, mule, wild boar and | | | | endangered at the moment. |
| birds. | | | | |