The site of the Pope’s leopard is marked with a memorial sign
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To one of the leopards of the national park “Land of the Leopard” dedicated a memorial complex in the Gamow cluster. This particular leopard, a male Far Eastern leopard named Martin Fierro, has been roosting in the Gamovsky area of the national park since 2021. This is the first wild leopard to be returned to the area in decades following the introduction of conservation measures. He received his unusual name from his patron, Pope Francis, as part of the Guardian of the Leopard program.
A memorial stone with his name was installed at the habitat of this spotted predator. The opening ceremony of this unique facility took place in the presence of honored guests, among whom were the head of the World Union of Old Believers Leonid Sevastyanov, the general director of the Far Eastern Leopards ANO Elena Gangalo and the director of the Land of the Leopard Federal State Budgetary Institution Viktor Bardyuk.
As part of the ceremony, participants were shown the latest photographs of Martin Fierro from camera traps. Note that Pope Francis took the leopard Leo 252M under his care in February 2023. The pontiff named his ward after the mythical character from the poem “Martin Fierro”, written by Argentine writer José Hernandez.
“I cannot help but smile when I think that I have become one of the leopard’s “protectors,” Pope Francis wrote in his letter to Russia. “Life brings so many surprises! I saw him in a photo, he is very beautiful. Congratulations on your successful work. Please convey my regards to “my friend”, the leopard Leo 252M.”
Participants in the opening ceremony also expressed gratitude to Sergei Borisovich Ivanov, the special representative of the Russian President on environmental issues, ecology and transport, for his important contribution to saving Far Eastern leopards.
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