In the past 40 days alone, seven rare Persian leopards have been killed or injured in Iran by poachers, food poisoning and cars, according to Iranian media reports.
Leopard cub saved (Dec. 2013) after being trapped in well in sw Iranian city of Khorramabad. (Photo: MEHR News Agency)
The leopard most recently harmed was found in a forested area in the north of Iran with one front leg cut off by a foot-snare trap. After transporting the large male to a veterinary center, radiography showed he was suffering from more than 50 small pellets and bullets scattered throughout its body and could not move due to spiral cord damage. His prognosis is dire.
The Persian leopard, one of the mascots of the Sochi Olympics and the largest member of the cat family in Iran, is considered an endangered subspecies on the IUCN Red List.
An unreliable estimate of the leopard population in Iran is 550-850 individuals. Little scientific data about them has been collected. It is known that their population has drastically declined across their range, largely due to the decimation of ungulates, their main food source. Food scarcity increases the potential for conflict between humans and leopards as they travel more widely for food.
Leopard killed in an automobile accident in Sefidkooh protected area near Khorramabad. (Photo: Mehr News Agency)
Between 2007 and 2011, 71 Persian leopards were killed by illegal hunting or poisoned. Twelve of the cats have been killed in the last 11 months alone, according to Iranian media. It is believed the actual number killed is much higher than reported.
First Light Productions 
when i see images like this, the cruelty and ignorance and seeming lack of appreciation and wonder, i feel ashamed to be human. humans commit the most despicable crimes against other animals and it’s heartbreaking and frustrating to see images like this from all around the world on a daily basis.
it is such a shame that some peoples remain uneducated and ignorant of the fact that they are depleting some of the world’s most iconic creatures to the point of extinction. i hate to think of world without polar bears, Amur tigers, Clouded Leopards and Oranutang to name but a few. the prospect of future generations only having a sets of leather-bound encyclopedia or google search to see these creatures breaks my heart. this world is our home, and we should nurture and protect it but i guess ignorance and greed will remain prevalent, like a cancer.
These peoples should be educated re the fact that these iconic creatures are more valuable alive than dead.
wake up!!!
So distressing. I feel so helpless at times.
Reblogged this on Wolf Is My Soul and commented:
Such a lovely cat being very unlucky around people. Saddening!!
Thank you – Mike
😦
Reblogga detta på Ann Novek–With the Sky as the Ceiling and the Heart Outdoors.
Thank you – Mike