Protected areas are a sanctuary for complex species like the Persian leopard, but the moment they leave the safety of the protected area they run into herder camps, their dogs and livestock, increasing the chance that leopards may kill the livestock. Herders may respond by killing the leopards. When protected area staff have good communication with communities in the buffer zone and support them by helping them mitigate the conflict or even better prevent it through the use of several conflict prevention tools, the acceptance of local communities towards leopards can increase.
Communication between protected area staff and local communities;
presentation by protected area staff on wildlife monitoring work done and workshops as opportunities to raise concerns over the presence of leopards and strengthen bonds.
Effective communication and exchanges lead to greater acceptance of leopards as well as identification of hotspots that enable to more efficiently take preventative measures.