"They released him as best they could." Members of the Expert Council for Nature Conservation are asking the Prosecutor General's Office to investigate the circumstances of the death of Terek the leopard.
Terek the leopard was scheduled to be released into the wild in the Caucasus Nature Reserve on July 15 as part of a program to restore the Persian leopard population in the North Caucasus. However, the results of this previously widely publicized event were not announced.
How to сообщает "Kedr," citing one of the participants, said the leopard could have been shot during the release:
"The Ministry of Natural Resources organized the release so well that they themselves got scared and, just in case, 'killed' the unique leopard. Scientists weren't even invited. Three helicopters of officials were brought in and 'released as best they could.' Apparently, the security guard was afraid for the minister."
According to another version, the leopard was killed by the governor's security guard.
It is unclear exactly what happened: everyone present at the event allegedly signed non-disclosure agreements.
The Ministry of Natural Resources did not respond to the questions posed in the appeal by the Expert Council on Nature Reserves, merely stating its intention to conduct an investigation. Having received no response, the Expert Council members contacted the Prosecutor General's Office.
On the website of the Ministry of Natural Resources last mentioned Terek's article is dated July 15, the day the animal was released. The article is titled: "[Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment] Alexander Kozlov congratulates on Persian Leopard Day."