On 25 December 2018, rangers along with staffs of Future4Leopards Foundation encountered a female Persian leopard in Tandoureh National Park. Surprisingly, unlike previous encounters, the leopard did not flee, but even approached the vehicle.
The case involved a young female Persian leopard, estimated to be younger than five found along the main trail that crosses Tandoureh National Park, in northeastern Iran. She has been regularly detected by camera traps, since 2016 inside the park.
As the leopard was looking very sick, it was decided that an intervention is needed, thus the leopard was captured and translocated to the nearest vet clinic in Mashhad, 3 hours of driving.
A previous study conducted by the FLF in collaboration with University of Tehran revealed high prevalence of Canine Distemper virus among local dogs, which can be a reservoir for the virus. Thus, the leopard was initially tested for the CDV, but the result was negative. However, the animal blood was sent to Tehran for more thorough examination of the CDV using PCR tests.
Currently, the animal is placed at Mashhad Zoo’s quarantine and is intensive surveillance by vets. Sadly, the leopard has severe neurological disease and is hand-fed by curators inside the enclosure.