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Amur Leopard: Probably The World's Rarest Cat?

Critically endangered (Around 100 remain) Panthera pardus orientalis

Affected by: Illegal wildlife trade , Climate change , Habitat loss and fragmentation , Deforestation

Not many people ever see an Amur leopard in the wild. Not surprising, as there are so few of them, but a shame considering how beautiful they are. Thick, luscious, black-ringed coats and a huge furry tails they can wrap around themselves to keep warm.

The good news is, having been driven to the edge of extinction, their numbers appear to be rising thanks to previous conservation work.

The Amur leopard is a nocturnal animal that lives and hunts alone – mainly in the vast forests of Russia and China. During the harsh winter, the hairs of that unique coat can grow up to 7cm long.

Over the years the Amur leopard hasn't just been hunted mercilessly, its homelands have been gradually destroyed by unsustainable logging, forest fires, road building, farming, and industrial development.

But recent research shows conservation work is having a positive effect, and wild Amur leopard numbers are believed to have increased to at least 120 adults, in Russia and north-east China. The Amur leopard, however, still remains one of the rarest and most critically endangered leopard subspecies in the world.


Amur Leopard Breeds In Captivity In Moscow Zoo For First Time In 60 Years

VLADIVOSTOK, July 13. /TASS/. Two Amur leopard cubs have been born at the Moscow zoo. This is the first time in 60 years that an Amur leopard breeds in captivity, the zoo's press service informed on Friday.

"Two Amur leopard cubs have been born at the Moscow zoo. They are the first cubs of this rare wild feline to be born in captivity in the last 60 years. Their father, Nikolay, has been rescued in the Land of the Leopard National Park in the Primorsky Region, after getting caught in a poacher's trap," the message states.

Russian border guards found Nikolay, known under the number Leo 80M, near the Chinese border in 2015, within the territory of the Land of the Leopard National Park, when he was still a cub. In 2016, he was transferred to the Moscow zoo, where he was put together with the female Amur leopard called Acra.

"Nikolay started a new genetic line of leopards living in captivity. He is the first one to carry the "new blood" from the wild since 1956, when an official ban on capturing these felines was introduced. In the future, Leo 80M's descendants may return to the forests of the Far East," the message notes.

The Amur leopard is the rarest wild feline in the world. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In the early 2000s, there was only 30 Amur leopards living in the wild. In 2012, the Land of the Leopard National Park was created in Russia's Primorsky Region to preserve the population of Amur leopards. By 2015, 70 leopards had been living in the national park.


Leopard: An Agile Climber With Built-in Camouflage

Leopards, scientifically known as Panthera pardus, are some of the most adaptable big cats in the world. These sleek and powerful animals live in various habitats, from the savannas of Africa to the mountains of Central Asia.

Despite their widespread presence, leopard populations are under threat due to habitat loss, poaching and conflict with humans.

Known for their agility and stealth, leopards are expert hunters, capable of taking down prey much larger than themselves. Here's a detailed look at the physical characteristics, social habits and environment of these felines.

Leopards' Physical Characteristics

Leopards are among the smallest of the big cats, typically weighing between 66 to 176 pounds (29.9 to 79.9 kilograms), with males generally being larger than females. Known for their striking, rosette-covered coat, their small, irregularly shaped spots provide excellent camouflage in several environments.

Leopards are stealthy and strong with powerful, muscular bodies and relatively short legs. They are agile climbers, taking their prey up trees and away from scavengers. Their retractable claws and sharp teeth are essential tools for gripping and dispatching prey species.

8 Leopard Subspecies

There are several recognized leopard subspecies, each adapted to specific environments across Africa and Asia.

  • African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus): The African leopard is the most widespread, including throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. African leopards are incredibly versatile and occupy a wide range of habitats, from savannas to forests and even semi-desert areas.

  • Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca): Commonly found across the Indian subcontinent, these leopards are adaptable and sometimes live near human populations.

  • Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor): Found in Iran and parts of Central Asia, this subspecies of leopard is larger and has a lighter coat.

  • Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis): This critically endangered big cat is native to the Russian Far East and northeastern China.

  • Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr): Native to the Arabian Peninsula, this leopard can live in harsh desert environments.

  • Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya): This apex predator is a vulnerable subspecies because of poaching and habitat destruction.

  • Javan leopard (Panthera pardus melas): This critically endangered subspecies only lives on the island of Java, Indonesia.

  • Indochinese leopard (Panthera pardus delacouri): Native to Southeast Asia, this vulnerable subspecies' population size has significantly reduced because of habitat fragmentation and poaching.

  • Snow Leopard: A Leopard Only by Name

    Despite its name, the snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is not a true leopard; it belongs to a distinct species within the Panthera genus. Unlike leopards, snow leopards inhabit high-altitude mountainous regions and have unique adaptations like thicker fur and larger nasal cavities to survive in cold environments.

    Social Habits of Leopards

    Leopards are solitary animals, except for raising cubs or mating.

    Male leopards maintain large territories that often overlap with those of several females, but they are highly territorial and will fiercely defend their range from other males. They establish their territories with scent markings and vocalizations, such as the characteristic "sawing" call of a leopard.

    Leopards are primarily nocturnal, using the cover of darkness to hunt and avoid competition with other large predators like lions and hyenas. They are incredibly stealthy, relying on their camouflage and patience to get approach prey before launching a quick and powerful attack.

    Leopard Diet

    Leopards are carnivores and opportunistic hunters, with a diet that varies greatly depending on their habitat. They are capable of hunting a wide range of prey species, from small birds and rodents to large ungulates such as antelope and deer.

    In Africa, their diet includes impalas, gazelles and even baboons, while in Asia, they often hunt species like deer, wild boar and monkeys.

    The strong animal can carry heavy prey up into trees to avoid scavengers. This behavior is especially common in African leopards, where competition with other predators is fierce. Leopards in more arid regions, like the Arabian and Persian leopards, often have to travel long distances to find prey, and their diet may include smaller animals due to the scarcity of large prey.

    In areas where natural prey populations have declined due to human activity, leopards may turn to hunting livestock, which often leads to conflicts with local communities.

    Environment

    Leopards are adaptable, making their home in a range of environments, from the savannas of Sub-Saharan Africa to the forests of Southeast Asia.

    The African leopard is particularly versatile, occupying habitats that range from dense forests and mountainous regions to open grasslands and semidesert areas. This adaptability is a key factor in the widespread distribution of leopard populations.

    In Asia, leopards live in diverse habitats as well, from the dense rainforests where you can find the Sri Lankan leopard to the mountainous regions inhabited by the Persian and Amur leopards.

    Life Cycle

    The life cycle of a leopard begins with a litter of about two to four cubs, born after a gestation period of about 90 to 105 days. Leopard cubs rely entirely on their mother for the first few months of life. The mother hides her cubs in dense vegetation or rocky outcrops to protect them from predators, including other leopards and large carnivores like lions and hyenas.

    Cubs start studying their surroundings, particularly their mothers, at about six to eight weeks old. By the time they are about a year old, young leopards can be capable hunters, but they typically stay with their mother until they are around 18 to 24 months old. At this point, they leave to establish their own territories.

    Leopards can live up to 12 to 15 years in the wild, though their lifespan can often be shorter because of the many dangers they face, including conflict with humans, competition with other predators and poaching.

    Conservation Status

    Leopard populations are declining across much of their range due to habitat loss, poaching and human-wildlife conflict. The population size of the African leopard, currently listed as vulnerable, continues to decrease.

    There are fewer than 100 individual Amur leopards left in the wild. The critically endangered subspecies faces poaching and habitat loss due to logging, farming. Similarly, the Arabian leopard is one of the most endangered big cats, with fewer than 200 left.

    Despite these challenges, conservation efforts are underway to protect leopards and their habitats. Organizations like the African Wildlife Foundation are working to preserve leopard populations through habitat conservation, anti-poaching efforts and education programs to reduce human-wildlife conflict.

    We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was edited and fact-checked by a HowStuffWorks editor.

    Original article: Leopard: An Agile Climber With Built-in Camouflage

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