Trophic niche breath of Persian Leopard Panthera pardus saxicolor in Bafgh protected area

Leopard population has declined sharply during the past 100 years. Persian leopard (Panthera pardus), categorized as Endangered in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is the largest felid in Iran following the extinct12 Persian lion (P. leo persica) and Caspian tiger (P. tigris virgata). In order to determine the diet and food habits of the Persian leopard in one of its most important habitat in central Iran, Bafgh protected Iran a two–year study (2012-2013) was conducted. The results of this study, which included analysis of 127 Leopard scats, showed that wild sheep (Capra aegagrus), with a frequency of occurrence of 73.23% is the major prey of the Persian leopard in Bafgh protected area, followed by wild sheep (Ovis orientalis), with a frequency of 20.47%. This study revealed that livestock (domestic goat and camel) fed by Persian leopard that can a serious threat for the Persian leopard in close future. Trophic niche breadth of Persian leopard in Bafgh protected area using Levin’s index 0.11 and Shannon-Winner 0.48 was calculated. Two factors that causes decline of trophic niche breadth of this species includes low density of potential prey and high food availability of wild goat.