11 October 2015

Azerbaijan’s biodiversity suffers a major loss

On 9 October 2015, two residents of the Astara district, namely Natiq Nabi oglu Boyukaghazade, born on 22.10.1995, and Samad Yagub oglu Farajov, born on 01.01.1995, were detained by the State Border Service officials, while trying to sell the pelt of the leopard hunted down on the territory of Astara.

 

Upon his preliminary questioning, Natiq Boyukaghazade has admitted killing the wild animal at a protected area in Astara’s mountain forest massif in the month of August of the current year.

 

After hunting down and skinning the leopard, Natiq Boyukaghazade looked for an appropriate buyer. He was detained in Astara’s village of Chukaz along with his relative Samad Farajov, when trying to sell the leopard’s skin for 10-15 thousand manats.

 

It should be noted that the Caucasian leopard, a rare species of the world’s fauna, is registered in the Red Data Book of the Republic of Azerbaijan as well as in the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Due to illegal hunting and deterioration of the natural habitat, the number of this rare species has sharply declined over the last decades.

 

It was established that only six Caucasian leopards remain in Azerbaijan, as revealed by the data obtained through the photocameras installed in Hirkan and Zangezur national parks by the International Dialogue for Environmental Action - IDEA Public Union, founded and headed by the vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

 

So far, a number of measures have been taken through the joint efforts of the IDEA Public Union, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to protect the Caucasian leopards and increase their number. The protection of the leopards’ habitats was improved, while a series of events were organized to raise public awareness about the significance and protection of the endangered leopards. IDEA Public Union has also implemented a project entitled “Protection of the Caucasian Leopards” aimed at informing the public, especially people that live near the habitat of the Caucasian leopard, about this rare species, as well as at promoting efforts for its protection. A series of events have been organized in connection with the protection of leopards as part of Leyla Aliyeva’s  “Big Five” program, which includes the five endangered species in the Caucasus – the bear, wolf, gazelle, eagle and leopard.

 

Nevertheless, there are still people willing to hunt these endangered animals for the sake of profit and greed. In this regard, IDEA is seriously concerned over the killing of such an endemic and endangered species.

 

It is noteworthy that in 2009 the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan adopted the national action plan to strengthen the protection of leopards. The Natural Areas Under Special Protection were expanded around their habitats. Hunting leopards was banned and stricter administrative responsibility for their killing was established. Aside from significant fines, Azerbaijan’s legislation also envisages criminal liability for the killing of leopards.

 

Unfortunately, some irresponsible individuals, seeking material gain through destroying the country’s natural heritage, do not hesitate to butcher such animals as leopards, which are on the verge of extinction.

 

 

IDEA Public Union, urges the citizens to protect the rich biodiversity and endemic species of fauna in Azerbaijan, and to inform the law enforcement agencies about any possible unlawful acts with a view to counter the killing of endangered animals.

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