Let's Protect the Leopards: Ecological Summer Camp in Lerik

On June 8-10, as part of the "Protection of Caucasian Leopards" project, the IDEA Public Union, the Youth Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic Child and Youth Development Center of the Ministry of Education, and the Azerbaijani representative office of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), with the support of the Lerik District Executive Power, organized the next "Let's Protect the Leopards!" ecological summer camp. About 60 schoolchildren from the Lerik district attended the camp, which was held in the village of Gosmalian, Lerik district.

The main goal of the "Let's Protect the Leopards!" summer camp is to educate young people living near the natural habitats of the Caucasian leopard about this rare species and promote its protection. The camp aims to raise environmental awareness from a young age and foster a sense of empathy and care for nature.

On the first day of the camp, participants received extensive information about the lifestyle of leopards, their distribution areas, and their role in nature.

On the second day, an excursion was organized to the Zuvand State Nature Reserve, including the Guneshli waterfall. Later, the youth engaged in hands-on activities to identify animal tracks and plant species.

On the third day, the schoolchildren watched the documentary film "The Most Wanted Leopard in the World" by nature photographer and director Adrian Stern. Following the film, an environmental game called "Let's Protect the Leopards" was held, where participants, divided into teams, tried to find ways to save leopards from illegal hunting.

At the end of the camp, participants were presented with certificates and souvenirs.

The "Protection of Caucasian Leopards" project is implemented through the joint cooperation of the IDEA Public Union, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the WWF Azerbaijan representative office. While the project aims to restore and protect the Caucasian leopard population, one of its main objectives is to raise public awareness. These summer camps for schoolchildren play a crucial role in this effort.

The camps are organized for schoolchildren living in regions where the respective fauna species are found. In the summer months of past years, approximately 600 schoolchildren participated in the 3-day summer camps held in the Masalli, Lerik, Salyan, Gakh, Gabala, and Ismayilli districts.