Amur Leopard: Why is it Endangered?

Summary

Amur Leopards are a rare species of leopard whose wild habitat is the Amur River
basin in Far East Russia. This region is the furthest north that any leopard species can
be found in the wild. The solitary Amur Leopard is well adapted to this northern terrain.

Range & Habitat

In the Wild: Amur leopards are native to the diverse temperate forests of Southeastern
Russia and Northeastern China.

At the Zoo: Zalie and Bob Linn Amur Leopard Woodland.

Conservation Status: Critically Endangered

Amur Leopards are the world’s most endangered big cats due to poaching and habitat
loss. It is estimated that the current wild Amur leopard population is 60 to 80
individuals.

Diet

In the Wild: Deer, boar, badgers, hares, birds, mice

At the Zoo: Specialized meat diet enriched with vitamins and nutrients needed for a
healthy diet. Leopards are also given humanely sourced rabbits, quail, rats and
chicken to mimic their wild counterpart’s diet.

Life Span

In the Wild: 10-15 years

In Human Care: Up to 20 years.

Fun Facts about the Amur Leopard

Amur Leopards have long bushy tails. With an average length of just under 3 feet. In
the winter, Amur Leopards will use their tail to keep warm, wrapping it around
themselves like a blanket.Amur Leopards are excellent swimmers. They are one of the
few cat species that love being in water.
Amur Leopards can run at speeds of up to 37 miles per hour. They are also excellent
climbers and will carry their prey up trees to consume it away from potential
scavengers.

Insights

Due to the increasing human population, and thereby increasing human activities such
as logging, settlements, livestock grazing, road building and thereby fragmentation,
the Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) has become one of the rarest big cats
in the world. So sad that because of poaching and loss their of habitat the leopards
are critically endangered. Humans should protect and preserve ecosystem.Healthy
ecosystems allow us to survive, get enough food to eat and make a living. When
species disappear or fall in number, ecosystems and people—especially the world's
poorest—suffer. The best way to protect endangered species is to protect the special
places where they live. We must protect our Mother Earth.

Reference
Our Endangered World, Amur Leopard. Retrieved January 03,2022.. Retrieved August
15, 2018. http://www.ourendangeredworld.com/species/land
mammals/amur-leopard/
 Amur Leopard: Why is it Endangered?

By: AuthorOur Endangered World

Posted onLast updated: November 21, 2022

Amur Leopards are a subspecies of leopard that lives in the Amur River region of
Russia, North Korea, and China. They’re less than 500 left in the wild!

Amur Leopard populations have been declining for decades because they’ve lost their
habitat to logging and farming. The Amur leopard is also hunted by poachers who sell
its fur on the black market.

Conservation efforts are underway to protect Amur Leopard habitats and stop
poaching. Organizations like WWF work with local communities to promote
sustainable livelihoods that don’t rely on hunting or logging. You can help too by
donating to conservation organizations like WWF or Wildlife Alliance today!

Status: Critically Endangered

Known as: Amur Leopard, Manchurian Leopard, Far Eastern Leopard, Korean Leopard.

Amur Leopard Population: 19 to 26.

Description of Amur Leopard

The Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) is superficially similar to other

leopards, but has some traits unique to the subspecies, too.

A male Amur leopard is 107 to 136 centimeters long. Weight varies by sex – females
weigh 25 to 43 kilograms, with males slightly heavier at 32 to 48 kilograms.

Distribution and habitat

The Amur leopard inhabits a land area of nearly 7,000 km 2 (2700 sq. m.) in the
Russian Far East. It is well equipped to endure chilly weather and snowfall.

Despite extensive and tall wire fencing, leopards straddle the Tumen River between
Japan, China, and Russia.

In 2010, a Leopard was recorded in Hunchun National Nature Reserve in Jilin and
Heilongjiang Provinces for the first time.
Elsewhere in North East China, leopard range is divided up, with smaller populations
discovered in isolated regions. In response to video captures, leopards have been
observed utilizing the camouflage trap in 16 designated areas in the Amur and Ussuri
River valleys.Although Amur leopards can climb trees, they spend most of their time
on the ground, especially at night or during bad weather. Amur leopards are mainly
solitary, although several individuals may share a common territory when there is
abundant prey.The Amur leopards also feed on the Manchurian wapiti that they
recently re-introduced into the Amur River Valley in the Russian Far East.

Amur leopards are nocturnal hunters. Manchurian wapitis, which occasionally

stampede through their territory, are one of the most common causes of death among
Amur leopards; however, they will also attack Amur leopards when the bigger cats
invade their range.

The Amur leopard is dependent on Sika deer and roe deer for its main food supply,
though it will take other animals as opportunity permits, including wild boar, moose,
badgers, hares, Manchurian wapiti, game birds, and even mice.

The leopard is a solitary hunter that ventures out under cover of darkness, though
males and females apparently pair up and cooperate during breeding season, possibly
raising their cubs together before taking their separate ways again.

The Amur leopard is distinguished by its thick fur, which is pale cream-colored in
winter. Winter coat varies from somewhat light yellow to dense golden tinge or ruddy-
reddish-yellow in color.

Males range from 107 to 136 cm (42–30 ft), with a tail length of 82 cm (3–35 in);
shoulder height is 64 : 78 cm (4.4 ft); and they weigh between 30 and 60 kg (40 and
110 lb). The paws of the Amur leopard are larger than those of other leopards, thus
making them better adapted to the deep snow of the harsh Siberian winters.

Amur Leopard Facts

The Amur leopard are a fascinating species, here are some facts about Amur leopards
to help you learn about the difference between amur leopards, amur tigers and other
leopard subspecies:

Amur leopards live for a decade to a decade and half in the wild, and remains fertile
throughout their life.

Amur Leopard populations have been declining for decades because they’ve lost their
habitat to logging and farming.
Amur Leopards are also hunted by poachers who sell its fur on the black market.

Amur Leopards has exceptionally luxuriant, thick fur that can be as much as 7
centimeters long in winter.

The Amur leopard’s habitat can support many more of the animals than it currently
does. China’s largest suitable area may accommodate more than 70 individuals, while
Russia’s biggest could handle around 120 Amur leopards.

The Amur leopard is a highly protected species in Russia, where hunters face fines up
to 1,100,000 rubles and imprisonment for two years for killing an Amur leopard. It is
illegal to store, transport, or sell their remains. The penalty may be as much as 1
million rubles and 2 years in jail if the crime is committed by a group of people.