Iranian leopard spotted beyond core reserve in conservation breakthrough
A Persian leopard was spotted and photographed last week in the Mo’ala heights of central Iran, Isfahan, signaling an expansion of the species’ range beyond the Abbasabad Wildlife Refuge, local officials told state media on Sunday.
The sighting, confirmed by Mohammadreza Halvani, director of the Abbasabad reserve, is being hailed as a milestone for the country’s long-term conservation efforts, IRNA reported.
Mo’ala, a community-managed buffer zone near Abbasabad in Isfahan Province, is one of several privately protected areas now showing signs of leopard activity.
“It’s a strong indication that our efforts are paying off,” said Halvani. “What we’re seeing now is the natural dispersal of male leopards in search of new territory.”
Roughly a decade ago, Abbasabad recorded its first confirmed leopard sighting in 40 years. Since then, under the backing of Iran’s Department of Environment, the number of leopard observations has steadily risen to seven or eight per year. Some camera traps have captured mothers with cubs, a clear sign of successful breeding.
According to Halvani, steady births over the past six years made it “predictable” that younger males would eventually move out. The latest image, taken by a local volunteer ranger in Mo’ala, likely shows one such individual establishing new ground.
Grassroots patrols have helped pave the way. Environmentalist Mohammad Akhavan, working with nearby communities in Nain County, has spent the past three years monitoring the area and ensuring safety for the wildlife.
Halvani credited this “local commitment” for enabling secure conditions for the elusive predator.
Abbasabad spans 400,000 hectares and is also a critical habitat for the endangered Asiatic cheetah. Both big cats remain on the IUCN Red List. Conservationists say expanding protected zones and formalizing local stewardship could ease human-wildlife conflict and build long-term population resilience.