Every year, more and more species of plants and animals are registered in the Red List of threatened species of the Russian Federation.
The Persian leopard (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica) is on the list of the Red Book of the Russian Federation and belongs to the first category as an endangered species. Hunting for leopards has been forbidden since 1957. The total global population is under 1,000 animals. It was completely exterminated in Russia, but presently, several young predators bred in the Leopard Recovery Center and released into the wild live in the Caucasus.
This is the largest subspecies of leopards with the body length from 126 to 171 cm but it can reach 183 cm and the tail length from 94 to 116 cm. The weight of a male on the average is about 70 kg, but the large individual can weigh more than 90 kg; females normally weigh 40-50 kg.
The Persian leopard exhibits two types of coloration, which is determined by the basic tint of the coat. The general color of the coat is grayish-ocher with a reddish shade; depending on the type, it will be either light or dark. Rosette-like spots on the animal coat are formed by 3 to 5 small spots and ensure a good disguise. The pattern formed by these spots is unique: there are no two leopards with identical rosettes.
The postal stamp provides an image of a Persian leopard female with a joey.
In addition to the issue of the postal stamp, JSC Marka will produce First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Sochi of the Krasnodar Territory, Stavropol and Rostov-on-Don. Also issued will be a maxi-card and an illustrated envelope containing a postal stamp, a label and a First Day Cover with a cancel for Moscow.
Artist: V. Beltyukov.
Face value: 52 rubles.
Stamp size: 50×37 mm, sheet size: 178×176 mm.
Emission form: a sheet with formatted margins with 12 (3×4) stamps.
Quantity: 192 thousand stamps (16 thousand sheets).