For Leopards in Iran and Iraq, Land Mines Are a Surprising Refuge

[Potoooooooo]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/12/141219-persian-leopard-iran-iraq-land-mine/
Land mines keep people out of the Persian leopard's last habitats, creating a conundrum—removing the hazards leaves the cats more vulnerable.

 

[bilby]

I seem to recall something similar happened in the Falkland Islands. The Argentine forces sowed the beaches around Stanley with anti-personnel mines that were not sensitive enough to be triggered by animals as small as the local penguin species, but which were easily triggered by foxes - creating an unintended penguin sanctuary.

For some reason the idea of a penguin sanctury protected by land mines makes me chuckle.

 

[rjh01]

Maybe someone should put more landmines down? Leopards weight about 77Kg. They would have their weight on two legs and land mines need 80Kg to be set-off, so the Leopards are safe. That way the area becomes a park and no need for more protection. Only issue is that farmers might put animals though the land mines. They would lose a few animals but then that area is then clear of mines.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Maybe someone should put more landmines down? Leopards weight about 77Kg. They would have their weight on two legs and land mines need 80Kg to be set-off, so the Leopards are safe. That way the area becomes a park and no need for more protection. Only issue is that farmers might put animals though the land mines. They would lose a few animals but then that area is then clear of mines.

Safe if they walk slowly. They would still get blown up if they were running.