Endangered Caucasian Leopard Captured on Camera in Armenia's Khosrov Forest

Fresh camera trap footage from Armenia's Khosrov Forest State Reserve has captured the endangered Caucasian leopard, offering another rare glimpse of one of the country's most elusive wild animals and underscoring the importance of ongoing conservation efforts.

Environment Minister Hambartsum Matevosyan released the footage on Tuesday, saying the sighting reflects the resilience of Armenia's protected ecosystems and the country's continued work to preserve its native wildlife.

"The camera traps of the Khosrov Forest State Reserve have recorded one of Armenia's most beautiful and rarest predators — the Caucasian leopard," Matevosyan wrote in a Facebook post.

He said the latest images show that Armenia's natural habitats continue to provide a safe refuge for the critically important species. According to the minister, the recording also demonstrates that conservation measures introduced in recent years are helping protect the country's unique biodiversity.

The Caucasian leopard is among the rarest big cats in the world, with only a small population believed to survive across the South Caucasus and neighboring regions. Wildlife experts consider every confirmed sighting significant because the animal is highly secretive and rarely seen in the wild.

The Khosrov Forest State Reserve, one of Armenia's oldest protected areas, plays a key role in safeguarding the leopard's habitat along with dozens of other rare plant and animal species. Camera traps installed throughout the reserve have become an essential tool for researchers tracking the movements and health of the country's most endangered wildlife.

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