A camera trap in an Indonesian mountain forest has recorded a rare Javan leopard, sparking renewed conservation monitoring efforts in the area. The Javan leopard (Panthera pardus melas) was captured on a camera installed in the Mount Lawu forest area of Central Java province, according to a July 29 post by the KGPAA Mangkunagoro I Grand Forest Park (Tahura) on Instagram. The recording, which shows the endangered big cat strolling calmly past the lens, was obtained after officials followed up on a hiker’s report of a leopard sighting along a trail. Dhidhit Suryono, field coordinator team leader at Tahura Mangkunagoro, said the cameras were installed for two full weeks around the reported site to ensure optimal observation results and increase the chance of capturing footage. The exact location of the recording is not being disclosed, he added, to prevent potential poaching. Tahura KGPAA Mangkunagoro I is a 231-hectare (571-acre) forest park on the slopes of Mount Lawu, a 3,265-meter (10,712-foot) volcano on the border between Central and East Java provinces. Image courtesy of Tahura KGPAA Mangkunagoro I. The effort involved four officers and two local residents, Dhidhit said. Of the 10 cameras they carried, only three worked in the field, one of which captured the leopard before the observation period ended. He said this backed their hypothesis that the animal regularly roams the area. Tahura KGPAA Mangkunagoro I is a 231-hectare (571-acre) forest park on the slopes of Mount Lawu, a 3,265-meter (10,712-foot) volcano on the border between Central and…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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