IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Iranian Cheetah Society, | |
| Persian Leopard | |
| 2010 Full Book | |
Being the most common subspecies of large felids in West and Central Asia, the Persian leopard has been hunted severely throughout its range for centuries. Now an endangered subspecies, the majority of the world's Persian leopard lives in Iran. However, poaching along with habitat fragmentation has reduced its populations to fewer than 1000 individuals in west Asia. Besides the Asiatic (Persian) lions which once were considered to be an easier hunt due to obviously asserting their presence and living in open country, leopard hunting has been admired by the erstwhile princely states in Iran (formerly Persia) as a symbol of valor and prestige. Nevertheless, despite the prevalence of the hunting as a royal sport for centuries, there is no solid document to show the consequences until the contemporary era (18th century) which is in accordance with Qajar dynasty. Moreover, the use of far superior fire power and an interest to hunt shared by a much larger number of the royal family. Naser al-Din Shah Qajar (1831-1896) is the first one who reportedly hunted 45-50 leopards mainly around the capital of Tehran. His son, Mass'oud Mirza Zell-e Soltan (1850-1918), has indicated in his autobiography to hunt 8 Persian leopards himself, followed by much more events by his companions. He is also responsible for hunting more than 37 Caspian Tigers and 30 cheetahs in the rituals. |
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