The "leopard singer" was captured by cameras on a mountaintop in Primorye

In the Land of the Leopard National Park in Primorsky Krai, a camera trap recorded rare footage of the vocalization of the Far Eastern leopard, which is one of the rarest predators on the planet. This was announced on February 26 by the press service of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Land of the Leopard".

"Leo 257M is the owner of this territory. The male is about five years old. When the predator reached its favorite resting place, it signaled its presence with a powerful roar, a signal for all forest dwellers. A little later, the spotted animal left its scent mark in the form of a scratch on the spot," the report says.

As noted in the press service, this behavior indicates the normal activity of the male, who with the help of several signals shows that he has privileges on this piece of land.

It is very rare to hear such sounds, the publication emphasized. Recording of such a phenomenon has been successful only a few times. Materials have become easier to obtain thanks to modern camera traps that are able to record both sound and picture.

Leopard vocalization is also used during the breeding season. Males and females attract each other by growling loudly. The female can also call her cubs in this way. Interaction through sounds is not the only means of communication. Animals can also use visual and odor tags, the press service said.

In the early 2000s, there were about 35 individuals of the Far Eastern leopard in the wild, and the species was on the verge of extinction. The creation of the national park has contributed to the restoration of the population: currently, more than 120 animals are recorded. The population growth is ensured by measures to protect against poaching and fires, increase the food supply and environmental education of the population.

Protected areas are more expensive: large-scale violations have been identified in dozens of nature reserves

Programs for the protection of Red Book animals are in danger of disruption.

On February 9, a tiger cub was rescued in the Khabarovsk Territory, which was later named Timosha. The animal is currently in the enclosure of the Service for the Protection of Wildlife and Specially Protected Natural Areas of the Khabarovsk Territory, where it has already grown stronger.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.