Persian leopards are much larger than their African cousins – a big male can weigh as much as 90 kilograms, which is heavier than most adult humans. Despite their size they are incredibly agile, able to leap several metres, scramble up steep cliffs and carry prey heavier than themselves up into a tree to keep it safe. Their thick coat means they can survive in the snow without any problem.
Leopards are famously secretive. Camera traps – automatic cameras triggered by movement – have helped scientists learn a great deal about them in recent years, because researchers can go months without actually seeing one in the wild. The cameras have revealed that each leopard has a huge home range, sometimes covering hundreds of square kilometres of mountains.
Conservation organisations in Iran are working hard to protect Persian leopards by creating safe wildlife corridors between protected areas, so that the cats can move between mountain ranges without crossing dangerous roads. Local communities are also involved – when people who live near leopard habitat help protect it, the results are much better for everyone.