Author/Authors :
Fadakar، D. نويسنده MSc Graduates, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources , , Rezaei ، H.R. نويسنده MS student, Department of Industrial Engineering , , Hosseini، M. نويسنده MSc Graduates, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources , , Sheykhi Ilanloo، S. نويسنده MSc Graduates, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources , , Zamani، W. نويسنده MSc Graduates, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources ,
Abstract :
Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor Pocock, 1927) is distributed in different ecosystems, and Golestan Natural Park is one of the main habitats of the species in northeast Iran. A precise knowledge of diet is a critical part of conservation plans for endangered species. P.pardus has varied diet and preys on various items such as wild ungulate and livestock. In this report, we discovered an unusual prey in diet of P. pardus using genetic analysis. Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) has been identified in diet of P. pardus through the use of sequencing the control region of mtDNA in Golestan National Park. This is the first record of domestic dog in the diet of P. pardus in Iran, although many different preys have been detected in other studies. Existence of dog in leopard’s diet is remarkable while many favourite preys of leopard exist in the same habitat.
