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May 9, 2014

Leyla Aliyeva meets head of "Panthera" organization Thomas S.Kaplan

A. Memorandum of Understanding on future cooperation was signed between IDEA (International Dialogue for Environmental Action) Public Association and Panthera Corporation, an influential organization of the world for protection of wild cats. 

 

The Memorandum signed by Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of IDEA Public Association and chairperson of “Panthera” Corporation Thomas S. Kaplan envisages development of a program associated with assessment of the living conditions of leopards in Azerbaijan, and protection of this endangered species.

 

Panthera Corporation will assist Azerbaijani scholars also in development of research and protection methods aimed at protection of the Caucasian leopards.

 

“We are very happy to have made an agreement on strategic cooperation with Panthera Cooperation, a leading organization of the world for protection of wild cats. Panthera has experience in connection with the program we have been implementing for the protection of the Caucasian leopards, one of the symbols of Azerbaijan’s natural legacy, and their ecosystem”, - said Leyla Aliyeva.

 

Thomas S.Kaplan said he supports the initiative to protect and increase the number of Azerbaijan’s leopard population: “This week, the first program associated with worldwide protection of leopards – the Pardus program was launched. Our joint cooperation with IDEA is estimable.”

 

20 surveillance cameras have been handed over to IDEA Public Association within the framework of the international cooperation with Panthera. They will be used to locate habitats of Azerbaijani leopards, and their number.

 

Number of the Caucasian leopards that have been related by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to the list of endangered species is below 1000 in the Middle East and Asia, and up to 25 in the south-west part of the Caucasian region, at the border of Azerbaijan with Iran. 


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