Rare Persian leopard returns to Kazakhstan’s Ustyurt Plateau

After decades of absence, the Persian leopard (Panthera pardus tulliana) is reestablishing its presence on the Ustyurt Plateau, located in the Mangystau region in southwestern Kazakhstan. Over the past 16 months, one specific cat has been captured on camera traps deployed in the plateau’s protected areas, most recently in footage taken in Kyzylsai Regional Nature Park.  Prior to these sightings, a Persian leopard was observed from 2018-2021 in the Mangystau Region, the only region of the country where the rare predator has been observed in recent decades.

In mid-March, Kyzylsai rangers retrieved new photos and video footage, recorded between February 11 and March 2, of a young male Persian leopard. Notably, scientists identified this leopard as the same young male captured on camera throughout 2024 in both Kyzylsai Regional Nature Park and the nearby Ustyurt Nature Reserve. This finding suggests that the leopard may be establishing a permanent territory on the plateau, rather than merely passing through.

The leopards in Kazakhstan likely originate from neighboring Turkmenistan, which is home to roughly 100 individual Persian leopards. It wasn't until 2021 that the Persian leopard was included in Kazakhstan's Red Book, recognizing the need for conservation efforts. Kyzylsai Regional Nature Park and the Ustyurt State Nature Reserve are active participants in the International Project for the Study and Protection of Large Cats, a multinational transboundary initiative launched in 2023. The project primarily aims to create conditions for establishing and maintaining a viable Persian leopard population in the Ustyurt region by minimizing anthropogenic limiting factors. Managed by the Biodiversity Research and Conservation Center (BRCC) and supported by domestic and international conservation partners, the project unites efforts in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan to facilitate the leopards' return to their historical range and ensure a safer future for these big cats.