Armenia to ratify Big Cats conservation pact

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia is set to ratify an international agreement aimed at the conservation of big cats, with a focus on protecting endangered leopard populations.

At the National Assembly session on March 25, Minister of Environment Hambardzum Matevosyan presented the draft law on ratifying the Framework Agreement on the International Alliance for Big Cats.

The agreement, signed on June 30, 2025, seeks to enhance international cooperation in the conservation of large felines and to prevent the decline of their populations.

The minister noted that the Caucasian leopard (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica) holds a special place in Armenia’s rich biodiversity.

He emphasized that the leopard is a key indicator of ecosystem health, and its protection means safeguarding not only a single species but also ecological balance and the environment as a whole.

The Caucasian leopard is listed in Armenia’s Red Book of Animals and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as “endangered” and “critically endangered.” Currently, the population in Armenia is estimated at up to 10 individuals, while the number of its prey species has increased from 1,000 to 3,000.

Matevosyan also highlighted that Armenia’s participation in the agreement will enable the country to expand international cooperation, conduct joint research, and apply best practices in biodiversity conservation.

Other feline species found in Armenia include the lynx, the European wildcat (Felis silvestris Schreber), and the Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul). The latter two are also listed in Armenia’s Red Book.