A new stage in the study of two rare subspecies of wild cats is being launched in Dagestan: the Caucasian jungle cat and the Caucasian forest cat. Twenty more camera traps will be installed in the Kizlyar Bay and the Agrakhan Nature Reserve, supplementing the cameras already operating in the Samursky National Park.
These animals lead a secretive lifestyle, and precise data on their numbers and distribution remain limited. According to specialists' estimates, about one hundred forest cats and no more than three hundred and fifty jungle cats live in the republic. The new cameras will help clarify how their range is changing under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors.
The project is being implemented by the Nature and People Foundation with the support of the Magnit company together with the Dagestan Nature Reserve. The first stage started in August 2025 in the Samur delta, where fourteen traps have already recorded members of the cat family and other wild animals. Now the research will cover the UNESCO biosphere reserve Kizlyar Bay and the Agrakhan Nature Reserve.
The living conditions here are changing noticeably. The drop in the level of the Caspian Sea has led to the disappearance of inland water bodies and a reduction in the water area of the bays. On the exposed areas, reed thickets, meadows and desert communities are forming, which directly affects the availability of the food supply and shelters for the cats.
In addition to camera traps, the project includes measures to reduce conflicts between wild cats and humans, as well as environmental education. Volunteers have already held classes for more than five hundred children in nearby settlements, telling them about the rules of behaviour when encountering rare animals. Such programmes will continue in the new territories.
Expanding monitoring makes it possible not only to collect the missing data, but also to develop concrete recommendations for preserving habitats under conditions of a changing climate and economic activity.
