Alexander Ovechkin played match in jersey with Far Eastern leopard

Famous hockey player Alexander Ovechkin supported the program to preserve the Far Eastern leopard by going out on the ice in a special uniform. The event took place on August 22 at VTB Arena before a friendly match between HC Dynamo Moscow and AK Bars as part of preparations for the new KHL season.

Ovechkin appeared on the ice in a jersey with an image of the rarest cat on the planet, thereby announcing a charity game that the club will hold in September. "This is a Far Eastern leopard - the largest and rarest cat in the world. In September, Dynamo will hold a match in support of this endangered species," the hockey player said.

HC Dynamo Moscow General Director Sergey Sushko supported the initiative. He confirmed that the team will hold one of the September matches in a special stylized uniform. "There are only 120 of these cats left in the world. These rare, beautiful animals have a lot in common with hockey – they are strong, resilient, and always want to win. That is why we want to participate and help the population of these wonderful, beautiful animals grow," Sushko noted.

The event was held with the support of the club's general sponsor, VTB Bank. The bank's press service emphasized its long-term work to protect wildlife.

"We have been supporting various wildlife protection projects for many years, including the Land of the Leopard National Park in Primorye, where the rarest cats in the world live. The bank is the official custodian of the Far Eastern leopard family. On the eve of the Eastern Economic Forum, where sustainable development issues are traditionally discussed, we are launching the campaign "Time to Be Visible. Bringing Endangered Species Back to the Map of the Future." Our goal is to draw attention to biodiversity conservation issues in Russia and support wildlife defenders," the bank's press service commented.

The Far Eastern leopard is the rarest large cat in the world. Listed in the Red Book, it is on the verge of extinction. Lives in the Primorsky Krai of Russia. In the early 2000s, there were about 35 individuals in Russia. In Russia, the population has been recovering since 2012. Today, more than 120 individuals live in Russia.