The Amur Leopard
In this article, Bella discusses the critically endangered species of Big Cat known as the Amur Leopard.
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The most elusive big cat in the world
The most elusive big cat in the world
By: Bella Eichmann
By: Bella Eichmann
When people think of leopards, the mind commonly paints the picture of a large, water-dwelling feline that resides in the tropical and humid areas of Africa and Asia. However, there is another subspecies of the leopard that is much less known. This species, known as the Amur leopard, inhabits the Russian far East and China, including the forests of Primorsky Krai and the Changbai Mountains.
Amur leopards live in extreme conditions, with snow blanketing their home for months at a time, and additional freezing weather. To survive in this weather, the Amur leopards have adapted physical traits that differentiate themselves from other leopard species. These traits consist of long, pale fur that is much thicker than that of the African and Asian-dwelling species. One Earth states that “Their winter coats can grow up to 70 millimeters (2.8 in) long and develop a rusty golden hue.” The Amur leopard’s pattern consists of large, dark rosettes that are unique with every individual. These cats are a bit smaller than other species of leopard, but this smaller stature again helps them to conserve heat in the winter.
The Amur leopard can run up to 37 miles per hour, similarly to other subspecies of leopard. These animals have been reported to leap more than 10 feet vertically, and 19 feet horizontally. Also known as the Far Eastern leopard, the Korean leopard, and the Siberian leopard, the Amur leopard has many names. These names reflect back onto the borders that this species once used to inhabit. This leopard was first classified in the year 1930 by Reginald Innes Pocock, a British zoologist. The name “Amur” was given to the species to acknowledge a water source known as the Amur River that runs through the leopard’s historical native range.
This species is becoming rarer and rarer to find in the wild. The Amur leopard’s natural habitat is diminishing for a number of reasons. The most predominant of those reasons is poaching. These leopards are highly valued for their pelts and bones, which supposedly hold traditional value in Asian medicinal practices. Though many national and international laws have been placed to protect Amur leopards, poaching continues to threaten their population. Earth.org talks about how it is so difficult to ensure that this species is safe from people. They explain that “Difficulties with regulating Amur leopard populations surrounding remote villages, particularly those in non-protected areas in close proximity with the Sino-Russian border, pose a challenge to preventing the illegal wildlife trade in such regions.” Thankfully, no reports of poaching these leopards for their pelts have been recorded in the last decade.
Another threat to Amur leopards is prey scarcity, which is due to extensive habitat loss from overpopulation, logging, and agriculture in the area. These leopards also have to compete with another apex predator in the area, known as the Amur tiger (more commonly known as the Siberian tiger). The Amur leopard, the Amur tiger, and farmers living in villages that overlap within the species’ territory all have the same food sources. This consists of boars, hares, and free-roaming deer, which are necessary for the survival of all three. As a result of this, the leopards have begun praying on domesticated animals. Which, unfortunately, leads to commonly fatal conflicts with people, further lowering their population in the wild.
As of 2023, around 130 juvenile and adult Amur leopards exist in the wild. This is a better number than the once only 30 individuals that were recorded in the past. This is thanks to protected lands in their habitat, like the Land of the Leopard National Park, along with anti-poaching patrols ensuring that hunters stay away from these critically endangered species. Another big help is the transboundary cooperation that Russia and China have agreed on.
Though the numbers of Amur leopards in the world are gradually increasing, they still have a long way to go before they are out of the critically endangered status of species. Reading this article alone, and being aware of their current standing is helping the conservation of this species.
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