Leopards in Russia – level 3
Three Persian leopards have been released in Russia’s Western Caucasus in the first ever attempt to reintroduce the endangered animals into the wild. The Persian leopard once widely populated this mountainous region but by the 1950s, its population declined dramatically, nearing extinction as a result of human activity.
In this video, conservationists look on as a trapdoor is lifted and two leopards leap out. They then run towards the trees in the distance.
These three leopards, called Victoria, Akhun and Killi will hopefully be the founders of a new Persian leopard population in Russia. They were born in the centre for breading and reintroduction of a leopard in Sochi National Park where they were specially trained to survive in the wild. Zoologists will monitor the released animals to locate and reach them in emergencies.
Difficult words: endangered (in danger), widely (in a large amount), decline (go down), extinction (when all animals of one type die), leap (jump).