Far Eastern leopard interesting facts for children. Far Eastern leopard, or Amur leopard, or Amur leopard
The Far Eastern leopard is also called the Amur, Manchurian or Korean leopard, as well as the Amur leopard.
These large spotted predators have chosen the mountain taiga regions and wooded areas of Northeast China, Korea, and the Far East.
The Far Eastern leopard is the rarest subspecies of the cat family. Today, only 35 individuals of these unique big cats live in the wild. Some experts claim that the number is even smaller - 20-25 individuals, while others even claim that the population has completely disappeared in the taiga forests.
How to recognize the Amur leopard
The weight of male Far Eastern leopards varies between 32-48 kilograms; previously, larger representatives of the species weighing up to 60-75 kilograms were also found. Females weigh much less than males, their weight reaches 25-43 kilograms.
The average body length of Amur leopards is 105-135 centimeters. At the withers they reach 65-75 centimeters. Far Eastern leopards have a long tail measuring about 80-90 centimeters.
The predator has thick, soft and long fur. In summer, the length of the fur is 2.5 centimeters, and in winter the fur becomes much longer - 7.5 centimeters. The fur on the back is shorter than on the belly.
![](https://i0.wp.com/animalreader.ru/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/The-Amur-Leopard2-e1411276342626.jpg)
The main color of the skin is pale yellow, but the chest, belly and tips of the paws are lighter than the rest of the body. The skin is decorated with black spots. On the back and sides, the spots are closely adjacent to each other, and between them there are spaces of a yellowish-red color.
The coloring of Amur leopards is much lighter than that of African and Indian leopards. A distinctive feature of Far Eastern leopards is their blue-green eyes.
Lifestyle, diet and number of Amur leopards
At one time, the Amur leopard had a difficult time in the places where they lived. But, today, these problems are considered so insignificant in comparison with those that man himself created. The main reason for the extermination of the population of these unique predators is poaching.
![](https://i1.wp.com/animalreader.ru/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/p1410047-126732-e1411276351140.jpg)
Far Eastern leopards are hunted not only by the local population, but also by wealthy Russians from Vladivostok. Chinese citizens who cross the border with Russia illegally also contribute.
Since 2002, 9 Far Eastern leopards have been shot in our country and 2 in China. Mass poaching is curbed by harsh laws. In this matter, the strictest policy is being pursued in China, where the death penalty is imposed for killing an Far Eastern leopard. In our country, the laws are more loyal - poachers receive 2 years in prison and a fine of 500 thousand rubles.
Deforestation, which is the main habitat of this predator, is also leading to a decline in the population of the Far Eastern leopard. Local residents often set fire to the forest, thereby stimulating the growth of fern, which is one of the popular ingredients in Chinese and Far Eastern Russian cuisine. The sale of ferns brings in large profits, and the population of the unique animal is declining. The numbers of these animals are declining alarmingly.
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Amur leopards feed mainly on sika deer, roe deer, and. The current situation leads to the fact that big cats are forced to change their usual habitat because they cannot provide themselves with the necessary amount of food. As a result, Far Eastern leopards often die from hunger and bullets from hunters.
Listen to the voice of the Far Eastern leopard
But if in China and the Far East you can rarely find this predator, then in North Korea the situation is much sadder, where people have already destroyed almost all animals. The Korean leopard has not been seen in these lands for more than 40 years.
Reproduction of the Far Eastern leopard
![](https://i0.wp.com/animalreader.ru/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/002-e1411276366199.jpg)
These inhabitants of taiga forests prefer a solitary lifestyle. Only during the mating season do males come together with females. The mating season usually falls in January. Pregnancy in females lasts 3 months. The expectant mother is looking for a den, it can be a cave, a hole in the ground or a crevice between stones.
Babies are born in the spring, there are 2-3 cubs in a litter, they have no vision, but their skin is already spotted. Young leopards do not leave their mother for 2 years. At 3 years they reach puberty. In the wild, the life expectancy of Far Eastern leopards is 12-15 years. In captivity, these unique cats live longer - up to 20 years.
Protection and measures to increase the number of Amur leopards
![](https://i0.wp.com/animalreader.ru/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/DSC6927-e1411276373394.jpg)
The outlook for the population in the wild is very dismal. Far Eastern leopards live in zoos, where they breed. Today, 300 Amur leopards live in zoos in our country, North America and Europe. Good results in breeding these animals have been achieved at the Tallinn Zoo in Estonia.
Far Eastern (Amur) leopardThe Far Eastern leopard is also called the Amur, Manchurian or Korean leopard, as well as the Amur leopard. These large spotted predators have chosen the mountain taiga regions and wooded areas of Northeast China, Korea, and the Far East. The Far Eastern leopard is the rarest subspecies of the cat family. Today, only 35 individuals of these unique big cats live in the wild. Some experts claim that the number is even smaller - 20-25 individuals, while others generally claim that the population has completely disappeared in the taiga forests.
The Far Eastern leopard is an endangered animal.
How to recognize the Amur leopard
The weight of male Far Eastern leopards varies between 32-48 kilograms; previously, larger representatives of the species weighing up to 60-75 kilograms were also found. Females weigh much less than males, their weight reaches 25-43 kilograms. The average body length of Amur leopards is 105-135 centimeters. At the withers they reach 65-75 centimeters. Far Eastern leopards have a long tail measuring about 80-90 centimeters. The predator has thick, soft and long fur. In summer, the length of the fur is 2.5 centimeters, and in winter the fur becomes much longer - 7.5 centimeters. The fur on the back is shorter than on the belly.
Far Eastern leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis).
The main color of the skin is pale yellow, but the chest, belly and tips of the paws are lighter than the rest of the body. The skin is decorated with black spots. On the back and sides, the spots are closely adjacent to each other, and between them there are spaces of a yellowish-red color. The coloring of Amur leopards is much lighter than that of African and Indian leopards. A distinctive feature of Far Eastern leopards is their blue-green eyes.
Lifestyle, diet and number of Amur leopards
At one time, the Amur leopard had a difficult time in the places where the Amur tigers lived. But, today, these problems are considered so insignificant in comparison with those that man himself created. The main reason for the extermination of the population of these unique predators is poaching.
The Amur leopard is a real predator.
Far Eastern leopards are hunted not only by the local population, but also by wealthy Russians from Vladivostok. Chinese citizens who cross the border with Russia illegally also contribute.
Since 2002, 9 Far Eastern leopards have been shot in our country and 2 in China. Mass poaching is curbed by harsh laws. In this matter, the strictest policy is being pursued in China, where the death penalty is imposed for killing an Far Eastern leopard. In our country, the laws are more loyal - poachers receive 2 years in prison and a fine of 500 thousand rubles. Deforestation, which is the main habitat of this predator, is also leading to a decline in the population of the Far Eastern leopard. Local residents often set the forest on fire, thereby stimulating the growth of fern, which is one of the popular ingredients in Chinese and Far Eastern Russian kuna. The sale of ferns brings in large profits, and the population of the unique animal is declining. The numbers of these animals are declining alarmingly.
Baby Amur leopard: you can’t play with such a kitten.
Amur leopards feed mainly on sika deer, roe deer, badgers and hares. The current situation leads to the fact that big cats are forced to change their usual habitat because they cannot provide themselves with the necessary amount of food. As a result, Far Eastern leopards often die from hunger and bullets from hunters. But if in China and the Far East you can rarely find this predator, then in North Korea the situation is much sadder, where people have already destroyed almost all animals. The Korean leopard has not been seen in these lands for more than 40 years.
Reproduction of the Far Eastern leopard
The greatness of the Amur leopard is amazing.
These inhabitants of taiga forests prefer a solitary lifestyle. Only during the mating season do males come together with females. The mating season usually falls in January. Pregnancy in females lasts 3 months. The expectant mother is looking for a den, it can be a cave, a hole in the ground or a crevice between stones. Babies are born in the spring, there are 2-3 cubs in a litter, they have no vision, but their skin is already spotted. Young leopards do not leave their mother for 2 years. At 3 years they reach puberty. In the wild, the life expectancy of Far Eastern leopards is 12-15 years. In captivity, these unique cats live longer - up to 20 years.
Protection and measures to increase the number of Amur leopards
The Amur leopard is a victim of poachers.
The outlook for the population in the wild is very dismal. Far Eastern leopards live in zoos, where they breed. Today, 300 Amur leopards live in zoos in our country, North America and Europe. Good results in breeding these animals have been achieved at the Tallinn Zoo in Estonia. Experts from a number of countries are developing a program for the exchange of Far Eastern leopards between zoos. This should give positive results at the genetic level and prevent the degeneration of the subspecies. There are grandiose plans to resettle Far Eastern leopards into the wild in the future.
The rarest predator from the cat family is the Far Eastern leopard. It is also called the Amur leopard or the Amur leopard - the IUCN Red List includes five subspecies of leopards, but the Far Eastern Amur leopard is the smallest and is on the verge of extinction. There are currently about 80 individuals in the wild.
Appearance
The Amur leopard, like all types of leopards, has a medium-sized round head with rounded ears, an elongated slender body, a long tail and strong slender paws with powerful retractable claws. Not a single description of the Amur leopard is complete without mentioning its unusually beautiful emerald eyes with oval vertical pupils.
The male is larger than the female, his body length can reach 135-137 cm, the length of the tail is 80-90 cm, the height of the animal at the withers is about 70 cm. How much does a leopard weigh? The average weight of a leopard is from 30 to 50 kg, females - 25-40 kg. The largest representatives of this subspecies weigh 60-70 kg.
His fur is luxurious - thick, soft and quite long. In summer its length is about 2.5 cm, and in winter it reaches 7.5 cm. Longer fur on the belly protects the animal from frost in the cold season.
In winter, the main color varies from light sand to yellowish-red; in summer it becomes brighter and more saturated. The tips of the paws, chest and belly are always lighter than the body. A unique pattern on the skin is created by black spots arranged in rings or rosettes.
Habitats
The habitat of this northernmost subspecies is the southwest of Primorsky Krai. The Far Eastern leopard mainly lives in Russia and only about 1/3 of the total number lives in China.
For life, the seaside leopard chooses areas with Manchurian-type forests, giving preference to places with rugged terrain, replete with hills, watersheds and rocky outcrops.
Lifestyle and habits
The Amur leopard has excellent eyesight; it is known to be able to see its prey at a distance of more than 1 km. This predator's sense of smell and hearing are also well developed.
The Far Eastern leopard is capable of reaching high speeds (up to 60 km/h) in pursuit of prey. This predator is mainly active at dusk. Before sunset, he begins searching for prey and hunts for the first half of the night. On cloudy days and in winter, it often goes out hunting during the day. Most often it goes to watering only after dusk.
The leopard is a solitary animal, strictly observing the boundaries of its territory. The areas are small and do not overlap between individuals of the same sex. A female (alone or with kittens) usually occupies from 50 to 100 square meters. km, and the male occupies a territory 5-6 times larger, visiting the females’ areas only for mating. A male's territory may overlap with that of several adult females.
The Amur leopard vigilantly guards the boundaries of its territory, regularly walking around them, leaving marks on the trees.
Nutrition
The Far Eastern leopard hunts alone, either stealthily or from an ambush. The female often hunts with her cubs. Skillfully using the terrain, the predator moves, hiding in various irregularities, bypassing dry foliage and branches, moving almost silently and unnoticed. When there are 5-10 meters left before the prey, the predator makes a swift lunge and grabs its prey. It happens that a leopard eats its prey in a tree. It is capable of dragging prey up to a tree twice its weight.
The diet of this predator consists mainly of ungulates. He also hunts various small animals. Most of the animals that make up the diet of this wild cat are hunted and poached, and their numbers are gradually declining. It is especially difficult for a predator to get food in winter.
Reproduction
The Far Eastern leopard reaches sexual maturity at 2.5-3 years, females develop earlier than males. A male often courts several females at once. The rut takes place in late autumn - early winter.
The female makes a den in remote places, choosing secluded crevices, caves or depressions under the roots of fallen trees.
After three months, the female gives birth to 1-2 (rarely 3-4) kittens. Babies are born blind, weighing about 500 g, covered with fluffy spotted fur. After 7-9 days their eyes open, on the 15th day the kittens begin to crawl confidently, and after the second month of life they can already get out of the den. At three months, kittens change the color of their fur coat, the spots gather into rosettes like in adult animals. At 1.5-2 years, the cubs leave their mother and begin an independent life.
In the wild, this predator lives 12-15 years, and in captivity it can live up to 20.
Reasons for disappearance
Since 1970, this subspecies has lost almost 80% of its habitat. Massive deforestation, infrastructure development in the Primorsky Territory and fires were the main reason.
Lack of food
Permitted hunting of ungulates and poaching lead to a decrease in their numbers and a decrease in the main food supply.
Illegal trade and poaching
Because of its beautiful fur, this rare cat becomes a victim of poachers. The high price of the skin forces poachers to risk their freedom and even their lives (in China, killing a leopard carries the death penalty).
Conflict with a person
Since the main diet of this predator is deer, they often enter reindeer herding farms in search of prey. This partly solves the problem of feeding leopards, but sometimes they become prey to reindeer herders.
Inbreeding
The small population of this subspecies makes it extremely vulnerable to the following factors:
- diseases;
- changes in birth and death rates;
- change in sex ratio;
- inbred depression.
There is a high probability that family ties lead to changes at the genetic level, one of the manifestations of which is a decrease in the birth rate. The average number of cubs per adult female per litter has decreased by almost 50% over the past twenty years.
Security
Preserving the Far Eastern leopard and restoring the population within its historical range is very important! Currently, many zoos are breeding this subspecies in captivity. It is worth noting the high results in breeding this wild cat obtained at the Tallinn Zoo.
A program for the exchange of animals between zoos is currently being actively developed, which will prevent the degeneration of this subspecies due to genetic changes as a result of inbreeding. In the future, it is planned to resettle these predators into the wild.
To preserve the population of this rare animal, the Land of the Leopard national park and the Kedrovaya Pad nature reserve were created in Russia, on the territory of which most of the entire population lives. In the Red Book, the Far Eastern leopard is listed as close to extinction, but the number of these animals in the wild is gradually increasing.
Video
Watch a fascinating documentary about the Amur leopard.
A predator that belongs to the cat family. The Far Eastern leopard is a large animal; the male's body length can be 136 cm (females are slightly smaller). Weight ranges from 50 kg to 60 kg. Distributed in the mountain taiga forests of the Far East, on the border of three countries - China, Russia and North Korea. Nowadays, the Far Eastern (Amur) leopard is on the verge of extinction. This is the rarest of the subspecies: according to some data, no more than 40 individuals have survived in nature.
Red Book: Far Eastern leopard
The predator has thick, long fur. Particularly noticeable in winter attire. This beautiful cat is one of the most beautiful and very rare cats in the world. Recently, these animals have been added to the Russian Red Book. The Far Eastern leopard has received the status of an endangered species. This circumstance greatly worries environmentalists and animal rights activists. Today, efforts are being made to preserve the subspecies and increase its numbers.
The Far Eastern leopard, whose photo adorns many publications about predators in Russia, is listed in the IUCN Red Book, as well as in the Appendix of the International Convention CITES.
Despite the efforts being made, today experts consider the situation with these magnificent beauties to be catastrophic. And there is every reason for this. Over the last two decades alone, the leopard’s habitat in our country has been halved, and its numbers have decreased tenfold. Today there are no more than 30 individuals in Russia. In China, according to the latest data, there are no more than 10 animals. There is no information about the presence of these animals in Korea.
The predisposition to changes in the range and numbers of this beautiful animal in recent years looks threatening. The last, once reliable refuge of the Far Eastern leopard in our country, the south of Primorsky Krai, is also not protected. Deforestation is not decreasing, but is gaining momentum, vegetation is systematically burned, new roads are being reconstructed and laid, individuals that cause damage to deer herds are destroyed, and there are frequent cases when the Far Eastern leopard ends up in traps intended for other animals.
Cases of poaching have become more frequent, which is stimulated by the fashion for the luxurious skins of these animals.
External signs of a leopard
Many special publications publish its description on their pages. The Far Eastern leopard is an unusually graceful and slender cat with a thick and lush fur coat. This is the rarest species of cat on Earth.
His body is slender and incredibly flexible. The head is round and regular in shape.
The predator sheds twice a year. Its summer coat is distinguished by a shorter coat (2.5 cm), while its winter coat is rather dull, long, and has a thick undercoat (5 to 7 cm).
The paws are strong and slender, with strong retractable claws.
Color
The coat changes depending on the season. In winter, the Far Eastern (Amur) leopard is dressed in a fur coat of a rusty, red and golden or light yellow hue. In summer it acquires more saturated tones. Clearly defined rings or black spots are scattered throughout the skin. Eyes blue-green or gray-blue.
Habitat
When people think of leopards, most people think of the savannahs of Africa. Despite this, there is a rare subspecies of these animals that lives in the forests of the Far East and northern China. That is why it received the name Far Eastern leopard; it is often called the Amur leopard. As already mentioned, the population is in critical condition, but there is still hope for the restoration of this subspecies. Consider the fact that its equally magnificent cousin, the Amur tiger, has increased its population in less than 60 years. But once upon a time there were also fewer than 40 tigers.
Experts believe that the Far Eastern leopard, the photo of which you see in the article, can be saved subject to the implementation of environmental projects.
This beautiful predator lives in temperate forests with a wide temperature range. Today the leopard lives in an area of about 5,000 square meters. km. A viable population of this subspecies remains in the wild in the Primorsky Territory (RF), between China and Vladivostok.
Main threats
According to scientists who are concerned about the life of the Far Eastern leopard, in 13 years (1970 - 1983) this predator lost more than 80% of its habitat.
Fortunately, today there are forest areas that are suitable for leopards to live. These areas should be protected from the harmful influence of humans.
Lack of loot
There are vast areas on Chinese soil that would be quite suitable for these animals. However, the level of food supply in these territories is insufficient to maintain the population at the proper level. It is possible to increase the amount of prey, but this requires regulating human use of forests and taking urgent and effective measures to protect ungulates from poachers. In order for the Far Eastern leopard population to recover, it needs to replenish its former habitat.
Poaching
The leopard of the Far East, like no other predator, is subject to illegal hunting because of its beautiful and expensive fur. An undercover investigative team conducted an experiment: they recreated the skin of a female and a male of this animal, and then sold them for $5,000 and $10,000, respectively. The “deal” took place in the village of Barabash, not far from the Kedrovaya Pad nature reserve.
This experiment showed that even today there are illegal markets for such products located in animal habitats. In these areas, poaching becomes a much more serious problem than in areas further away from people.
Conflict with a person
Amur leopards are very vulnerable because deer form part of their diet. In the Far East, people have made their “contribution” to reducing the number of deer. This is explained by the special value of the horns of these animals in Asian medicine. In turn, this does not allow the leopard to receive food in sufficient quantities. In this regard, animals often wander into reindeer herding farms in search of food. It is only natural that farm owners protect their investments and kill predators.
Inbreeding
This magnificent predator is also under threat because its population in the wild is extremely small. This makes it vulnerable to various disasters - forest fires, disease, changes in the ratio of mortality and birth rates, sex ratios (for example, cubs that were born within the last few years may turn out to be males). In addition, inbreeding depression is an important factor. Family ties have been registered, and this fact does not exclude possible genetic problems, including decreased fertility. Such matings are quite common in nature in some populations of big cats, but they by no means allow for outbreeding in very small populations, which undoubtedly includes the Far Eastern leopard.
Food
The diet of this predator is based on wild artiodactyls - roe deer and sika deer. When food is scarce, the leopard feeds on badgers, Manchurian hares, wild boars, red foxes, etc.
A leopard can withstand hunger for up to twenty days.
Lifestyle
The Far Eastern leopard is a crepuscular animal. He goes hunting in the evening or at night. Rarely, but if very hungry, it can pursue prey during the daytime.
It most often attacks its prey from an ambush. The predator approaches it very carefully, trying to use the local terrain to get closer. The leopard goes to water only when it is dusk in the forest.
The beast has very sharp vision. He can see his prey at a great distance (up to 1.5 km). But with hearing and smell the situation is somewhat worse.
The Far Eastern leopard is an excellent tree climber. Even large prey is easily dragged onto the branches.
At short distances it develops a very decent speed (55 km/h). This cat doesn't really like to swim.
Often uses roads and paths made by humans. He is not afraid of him, does not attack, but simply tries to leave unnoticed. It cannot stand the constant presence of a person - it leaves such places forever.
Lives in one area for many years, walks along the same paths and uses the same brood dens.
Social structure
Leopards prefer solitude, but can live in pairs and families.
On the male's property there are several areas of females, which reach an area of 60-100 sq. km. In this territory she lives with her offspring. Leopards regularly walk around their properties and place their characteristic marks on trees at their borders. You can often see so-called scrapes on the ground.
Puberty and pregnancy
The animal reaches full maturity by 3 years. Males mature somewhat later than females. The female carries her cubs for 90 to 105 days.
Reproduction
Far Eastern leopards are polygamous. One male courts several females. The female produces cubs only once every two years. The predator makes a lair in caves, crevices, under the roots of fallen trees in secluded, remote places. The male is the visiting father. He visits the female and kittens from time to time. Sometimes he helps hunt.
Leopards breed throughout the year, but the peak occurs in January.
Offspring
Usually 1-3 blind, adorable spotted kittens are born. They weigh an average of 600 g, body length is 15-17 cm. Small predators open their eyes at 7-9 days. When the babies are a little over a month old, they leave the den for the first time. At two months, mother begins to feed them meat. At three months, the child's fur pattern changes to an adult one (the spots turn into rosettes). The offspring live with their mother for up to two years.
Danger to humans
Of all the representatives of this group, the Far Eastern leopard is the most peaceful. It does not attack humans - not a single case has been recorded over the past 50 years. Very rarely attacks domestic animals.
It follows from this that this predator is not a threat to humans.
"The Far Eastern leopard. The struggle for the throne"
In December 2014, this amazing documentary created by Russian filmmakers was released on the screens of our country.
Every person on our planet should see this film. The Far Eastern leopard is shown in it as no one has ever seen it before. Cautious and elusive animals appear out of nowhere and quickly disappear into nowhere, as if dissolving in the vastness of the wild and beautiful Far Eastern taiga.
For a long time (more than a year), the film crew collected unique material in order to shoot those very shots that no one had yet been able to do. This is a desperate struggle for survival, raising cubs, eating and hunting, details of the complex relationships in one family of leopards and their competition with other animals.
The main character of the film was the most beautiful, graceful female Kedrovka. Neighbors in the taiga forest began to constantly steal her prey, and predators seek to kill her kittens. A desperate mother is forced to leave her lair near the Kedrovaya River and take her babies deep into the Ussuri taiga.
With the onset of winter, not far from the den that Kedrovka was forced to leave, the carcass of a deer suddenly appeared. Who got it? Kedrovka herself, one of her surviving and matured kittens, or maybe a new animal has appeared in these wild taiga lands, laying claim to the “taiga throne”?
In order to answer these many questions and at the same time capture amazing footage from the life of the most mysterious cats of prey on earth, the My Planet studio team turned the territory of the Leopard Land park into an unusually large filming location. The documentarians used the most advanced, truly unique, state-of-the-art technologies and hidden cameras. It is especially important that the film crew observed the most important condition - maintaining the calm of the predators; nothing should frighten them or force them to leave their usual habitats.
Today we introduced you to the most beautiful and rarest predatory cat on Earth. I really want to believe that the Far Eastern leopard will survive, so that in a few years we will not remember it in the past tense. The next generations should see them, they should know about this amazing animal that man so mercilessly exterminated.
According to genetic and phylogenetic data, its closest relatives are the Indochinese leopard and the North Chinese leopard. The African lion and tiger can be considered distant relatives.
The first description of this animal was made in 1857 by the German naturalist Hermann Schlegel. Moreover, all the scientist’s conclusions were based only on data from an examination of the skin taken from an animal killed in Korea.
Famous Russian travelers, naturalists Ivan Yankovsky and Nikolai Przhevalsky, mentioned the leopard in their travel notes. Several monographs from the Soviet period are devoted to the Far Eastern subspecies of leopards.
Habitat
The predator's distribution area covers an area of 10–15 thousand km2, extends just north of the 45th parallel and is actually located in the subtropical zone. However, the cold currents of the Pacific Ocean and the cold air masses of Eastern Siberia make the coastal microclimate not at all as comfortable as in Sochi or on the Crimean Peninsula.
It is characterized by long frosty winters with temperatures up to – 400 C and hot short summers with air temperatures up to + 300 C and above. Despite such sharp temperature changes, the animal Far Eastern leopard is perfectly adapted to the harsh climate and to the almost African heat that periodically replaces it.
The animal's usual habitat is mixed forests, rocky slopes, mountain ledges and shores indented by many caves. The animal hunts at altitudes of up to 500 - 700 meters above sea level, where the population of ungulates is always stable, and, therefore, food is available in sufficient quantities.
Number of subspecies
Seeing this predator in its natural habitat is real luck and good fortune.. Throughout history, there has not been a single evidence of a large population. Despite this, in ancient times the animal was found throughout the Ussuri territory and was hunted on the Korean Peninsula. There is documented information about hundreds of exterminated animals (an agreement dated 1637 for the supply of skins between China and Korea).
Human economic activity, poaching, illegal logging of taiga forests, and forest fires led to the fact that by the end of the twentieth century there were negligible numbers of these leopards left in the wild.
The animal was last seen in South Korea in 1969. There is currently no information about the life of animals in North Korea; the size of the population of the Far Eastern leopard in this region is not known. Until 2000, about 40 individuals lived there. In 2015, the number of Far Eastern leopards within the borders of the Primorsky Territory did not exceed 60 individuals, in China there were only 12 animals.
Appearance
The Far Eastern leopard is a fairly large wild cat, but smaller in size than a tiger, lion and jaguar.
- The slender, graceful body of the predator has an elongated shape, somewhat “flattened” on the sides, its length is 105 – 137 cm. Height at the withers is 60 – 78 cm.
- The tail is long - 80 - 90 cm.
- The limbs are powerful, not long.
- The claws are sharp, retractable, on the front paws up to five centimeters in length.
- The weight of an adult male is from 32 to 53 kg, and that of a female does not exceed 43 kg.
- The head is round in shape, relatively small in size.
- The forehead is powerful and convex.
- The nose is wide, elongated, dark in color.
- The ears are set wide, rounded, small, and black at the back.
- Eyes with round pupils, not large.
- The mustache is elastic, up to 10 cm long, black and white.
- The fangs are sharp, long, like blades.
- The animal has thick soft fur that fits tightly to the body. The length of the pile on the belly reaches 7 cm, on the back - 2.5 cm in summer and up to 5 cm in winter. The main color of the coat is yellow with a reddish or reddish tint; in winter it is not as bright as in summer. This is especially noticeable in photographs taken in different time periods.
The description of the breed in winter is somewhat different from the description in summer. And all this is thanks to the changes occurring in the animal’s fur.
The spotted color allows the animal to blend in with its environment and become invisible to prey and enemies. The location of the markings on the fur is unique for each individual and allows them to be identified: there are two types of black markings - ring-shaped and solid.
Small uniform spots are located on the chin, forehead, near the mustache, on the cheeks; larger marks cover the paws and lower part of the body. Dark rings up to 5 cm in diameter are scattered on the back and sides. The tail at the top is decorated with large spots - solid and ring-shaped.
Lifestyle
The behavior of the Far Eastern leopard is not much different from the behavior of other representatives of the cat family - it loves solitude and independence.
- The hunting grounds of the male occupy vast territories - from 238 to 509 km 2. Their boundaries do not change throughout the year, and subsequently depend on the amount of food in the area, age (they can expand or decrease).
- Females occupy more modest areas - 10 - 40 km 2 for females with small kittens and up to 100 - 250 km 2 for females with offspring one and a half years old. They have been attached to them for many years, they know every path and cave.
The living space of individuals often coincides along the boundaries, and one mountain path can be used by several predators at once. Direct collisions rarely occur, but if they do occur, they end tragically for the weaker individual. As a rule, relationships are sorted out by adult and young males; sometimes conflicts occur between a male and a female, especially when she has to protect her cubs.
In the hunting grounds where the Far Eastern leopard lives, you can find visual marks - deep scratches on tree trunks, loosened soil or snow. The animal also marks its personal space with urine. Markers are located mainly in the central part of the territory, and not along its borders.
The wolf poses a potential threat. A pack of wolves can attack kittens or an adult animal. The animal does not have any particular contradictions with the tiger and the common lynx. Brown and Himalayan bears can take away its prey and force it out of its own den, so the Far Eastern leopard stays away from them.
Hunting and diet
Night solitary trips for prey are common for this predator. He doesn't like fuss and noise. It waits for the victim for a long time and sneaks up on it unnoticed. With ease and grace, the panther overtakes the animal in several leaps and plunges sharp fangs into the throat. It eats its meal right away, tearing pieces of meat from the victim with its teeth.
Large prey lasts for 5 – 7 days. The predator hides the uneaten remains of food in a secluded place (under trees, in small niches) or drags it into its lair. From time to time, badgers and raccoons make night visits to the cache; foxes, wild boars and even bears are not averse to profiting from other people’s reserves. But most often the tasty morsel falls to crows, magpies and tits.
You can’t count everything that the Far Eastern leopard eats. Favorite food is wild goats and deer; the predator hunts them in the summer. In winter, the animal switches to the cubs of East Asian deer and wild boars. The secondary “food products” are small rodents, raccoons, hares, hazel grouse, badgers, and pheasants. This leopard can also attack bear cubs.
Reproduction and care of offspring
Not all females are able to give birth to offspring; moreover, for various reasons, they often die. The mating season lasts several days and falls in late autumn or early January. Males are more interested in young females; they organize bloody battles for them. Animals do not create long-term pairs. After mating, the female tries to get rid of the unwanted proximity to the male and, secretly from him, prepares a den for the upcoming birth.
Pregnancy lasts 3 – 3.5 months. Typically, a female gives birth to 1 to 4 kittens. A Far Eastern leopard cub is born blind, weighs no more than 600 grams, and in a large litter - about 400 grams. It is covered with thick fluffy sand-colored fur with pronounced spotting.
The kittens open their eyes at 7 days, begin to crawl at two weeks, walk at one and a half months, and by two months they are already emerging from the den. Three-month-old babies go on four-kilometer runs with their mother, while five-month-old babies can easily cover 8 km.
Until 5–6 months, the cubs feed on mother’s milk. They try meat for the first time at 1.5 - 2 months, and by 3 months they cannot do without it at all. Most often, they remain next to their mother until the next offspring appears, but they can live independently from the age of one and a half years. The Far Eastern leopard reaches sexual maturity - the male reaches the age of 2 - 3 years, the female at 2 years.
In captivity, the predator lives for more than 20 years, in natural conditions - from 10 to 15 years.
Security measures
The predator is listed in the International Red Book as a rare subspecies whose habitat is limited. The main population is located on the territory of the Russian Federation, where hunting for this animal has been prohibited since 1956. If it were not for government intervention, the Far Eastern leopard would have long been considered an extinct species.
For many years now, scientists have been faced with the task of saving the genetic fund of this subspecies of leopard. Animals in zoos in Europe, Asia and Russia participate in the European program for the conservation and breeding of the Far Eastern subspecies. Of these, only 10 individuals can be considered purebred, the rest are the result of crossing with the North Chinese subspecies.
Since 2008, a government program has been running in Russia aimed at saving the Far Eastern leopard and increasing its numbers. The strategy for preserving the animal primarily includes the creation of protected areas. One of the oldest nature reserves in Russia, Kedrovaya Pad, where this subspecies constantly lives, was opened almost a hundred years ago. The Leopard Nature Reserve appeared in the Primorsky Territory in 2008.
The largest protected area in the Primorsky Territory, “Land of the Leopard,” covers 60% of the predator’s habitat and has been operating since 2012. The territory of the park stretches from north to south for 150 km, its western border coincides with the border of China. Protecting the Far Eastern leopard and creating favorable conditions for breeding is the main focus of the reserve’s work. Park staff maintain the food supply for predators and conduct round-the-clock surveillance using camera traps.
Leopard watching
The Far Eastern Amur leopard is cautious and secretive. It catches the eye of a person extremely rarely, quickly retreats, leaving no traces. Apparently, that’s why almost no one was able to track him. A solution to the problem was found at the very end of the 20th century, when scientists invented a camera trap. The first photographs of the beast appeared in 2001.
The device is absolutely safe. Consists of a camera, an infrared sensor, and a battery. The device is installed in the area where the Far Eastern leopard lives, on both sides of the path. To make the animal stop in the middle of the path, bait with an attractive smell is placed on the ground. The sensor reacts to heat and sends a signal to the camera. The animal enters the frame from both sides simultaneously. Replacement of digital media and recharging of the power supply is carried out once every 5–6 days.
Not so long ago, specialists began to use not only photos, but also video shooting mode around the clock. It allows you to track each predator separately, observe the brood, provide assistance to the animal, if necessary, collect interesting facts and process statistical data. Videos and photographs, in the event of a leopard being killed, help quickly find the culprit.
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