"Elusive Grace: The Surprising Story of the Endangered Amur Leopard"

 

The Amur leopard walks slowly across the snowy terrain and watches its prey from the trees. In the clearing below, a sika deer chews on tree bark, one of the few food sources left in Russia's frozen winter. The leopard crouched down, its body very close to the ground and the fur on its belly brushing the snow. He suddenly jumped forward and hit the deer from 10 meters away. It's dinner time.

 

 

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• Name: Amur leopard
• Scientific name: Panthera pardus orientalis
• Type: Mammal
• Diet: Carnivore
• Average lifespan in the wild: 10 to 15 years
• > Size: 6 to 7 feet
• Weight: 70 to 105 pounds

 

Cool cats

 

Most people think of leopards prowling the African savannahs, but these animals are native to many breeding areas in the country and region. . Amur leopards live in the mountain forests of eastern Russia and northern China. These cats, named after the Amur River flowing between the two countries, adapt very well to this harsh environment. Their soft, thick fur keeps them warm, and their large paws act like snowshoes, allowing them to walk on unmelted snow.

 

The Amur leopard weighs about 80 pounds; this is about 30 pounds lighter than the average leopard in Africa. However, these cats can still catch animals three times larger than themselves. They like to eat deer and wild boar, but will also eat rabbits and mice if larger animals are not available. Scientists sometimes call Amur leopards "silent killers" because they are so good at sneaking up on their prey.

 

Return

 

Habitat loss and poaching have made the Amur leopard one of the rarest wild animals in the world and the rarest leopard in the world. But the Amur leopard is making a comeback, thanks in part to new parks along the Russia-China border. Since the creation of the 647,400-acre protected area called "Russian Leopard" National Park in 2012, the number of Amur leopards has jumped from about 30 in the early 2000s to about 80 in 2018. Police believe there is good management at the park. It will help increase the population. So expect to see more leopards soon.