In a recent paper published in Cat News (Issue 86, Summer), entitled “Breeding record of the Persian leopard from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq”, we reported an additional breeding record of the rare and endangered Persian leopard, also known as the Zagrosian leopard, from Bamo Mountain in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This record is important for understanding the local status of this elusive big cat and provide valuable insights into its conservation and breeding activity across the western part of its range.
Abstract: "The Persian leopard Panthera pardus tulliana persists in small, fragmented populations in the mountainous areas of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, with confirmed breeding records remaining extremely rare. Bamo Mountain is one of the most important habitats for the subspecies in the country, supporting a small breeding population. Here, we report an additional reproduction record of the Persian leopard from Bamo Mountain based on camera trap observations on 31 October 2025. It included a known female with two cubs, one male and one female. These findings highlight the critical conservation value of this transboundary landscape for the recovery of the Persian leopard in its western range."
The mother, “Kurdistan,” was the first confirmed live female leopard recorded in the country. We photographed her at a water source in June 2021. Since then, we have been monitoring her, and she has given birth at least twice, in 2022 and 2025. We named her female cub “Zagros” and her male cub “Hallo,” meaning “eagle” in Kurdish. Kurdistan is currently more than 10 years old, and we hope her cub Zagros will take her place and establish her territory in the coming years and continue to maintain the leopard population on Bamo Mountain and in the Kurdistan Region.
The mother, “Kurdistan,” and her female cub, “Zagros,” photographed on Bamo Mountain in October 2025. Photo: Soran H. Ahmed/Soma I. Majeed
The cubs, Zagros and Hallo, on Bamo Mountain, October 2025. Hallo is starting to inspect the area and smell scent marks, possibly left by other males. Photo: Soran H. Ahmed/Soma I. Majeed
Inspecting the location of the leopard family and a scent-marking site. The authors, Soran H. Ahmed and Soma I. Majeed, are also a family who collaborate in leopard and wildlife research and conservation. Photo: Shaswar Karim
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