Amur Leopard: A Precious Endangered Species from the Far East of Russia

The Amur leopard, also known as the Far Eastern leopard, is a rare and precious species of the cat family originating from the Far East of Russia. It possesses the remarkable ability to run at speeds of up to 60 km/h (37 mph) and leap up to nearly 6 meters (20 feet) in height. This species is also known by various other names including the Korean leopard and the Manchurian leopard. It is one of the rarest large cats in the world. Currently, this animal is nearly extinct and is under special care in Russian national parks.

According to reports in 2015, there were only about 60 individuals of the Amur leopard left. They are found in the border region spanning between the Far East of Russia and China. This is an extremely endangered species, and the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) is collaborating with local communities, regional authorities, governments, and other non-governmental organizations to save the Amur leopard and ensure its habitat is conserved in the long term. The fur of the Amur leopard is lighter than that of most other leopard species and features large, dark rosettes with thick, unbroken rings. They weigh between 70 to 105 pounds (31 to 48 kg). Due to their excellent adaptation to the cold conditions of the Far East of Russia, they have a dense coat of fur that can grow up to 7 cm (2.75 inches) thick in the winter. The main reason for the hunting of Amur leopards is the value of their beautiful fur. Another factor is the scarcity of prey such as sika deer, roe deer, and wild hare, which are also hunted by local residents for food and income. The Amur leopard is also threatened by habitat loss. This species is crucial to the ecosystem. As apex predators, they play a significant role in regulating the populations of other species in their environment. This, in turn, affects the condition of the forests and the entire ecosystem, providing diverse sources of food, clean water, and other resources for both nature and humans. Conserving the habitat of the Amur leopard also benefits other species, including the Amur tiger and prey species such as roe deer and sika deer. Amur leopards are agile and strong runners, known for carrying their prey up into trees to prevent scavengers from stealing their food. They are considered to be the most skillful stalkers and climbers among the large cat family, possessing impressive strength that allows them to overpower prey up to 10 times their own weight.