Physical Description:

Amur leopards are known for their beautiful thick and rosette fur. Their summer coat is short and bright, usually about 2.5 cm long, but in winter, it turns thick, soft, and long, up to 7 cm in length. This lengthy fur helps keep the leopard warm during harsh winters. The base color of their coat varies from a light yellow in summer to a rich yellow or reddish-yellow in winter. The body is covered in widely spaced rosettes with thick, unbroken rings and darkened centers.

Physically, Amur leopards are sturdy big cats with a muscular build. They have a long body with relatively short legs and a broad head. Their eyes range from a light yellowish shade to a piercing green. The tail of an Amur leopard is long, helping to provide balance. Another unique feature is their large, thickly furred paws that act as snow shoes during the winter.

Characteristic:

Arboreal, Carnivore, Diurnal, Polygynandry, Solitary, Starts with A, Terrestrial, Territorial, Viviparous

Native Habitat:

Historically, the Amur leopard inhabited the Amur River basin, the Northeast China mountains, and the Korean peninsula. Today, they are almost entirely found in one corner of the Russian Far East, in a small area along the Chinese border. This region experiences a wide range of temperatures, from a bone-chilling -30°C in winter to a warm 30°C in summer.

The habitat of the Amur leopard primarily includes temperate, broadleaf, and mixed forests. These areas provide the leopard with plenty of cover and clear lines of sight, essential for their hunting technique. The forest undergrowth provides concealment, while the trees allow for escape and safety, especially for cubs.

Climate Zones:

Continental

Temperate

Biomes:

Forest

Mountains

Taiga

Temperate Forest

WWF Biomes:

Boreal Forests/Taiga, Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests

Biogeographical Realms:

Continents:

Asia

Countries:

China, Russia

Diet:

Carnivore

Diet & Feeding Habits:

The Amur leopard is a carnivore with a preference for ungulates. The core of their diet consists of roe deer and sika deer, followed by small wild boars. However, they will resort to smaller mammals and birds when larger prey is scarce. They have also been known to eat hares, badgers, and raccoon dogs. Hunting typically occurs at night; the leopard uses its keen senses and stealth to get close to its prey before launching a rapid, powerful attack.

Despite being smaller than other big cat species, the Amur leopard’s strength is formidable. They can carry heavy prey up into trees to protect it from other predators or scavengers. This solitary creature prefers to hunt and eat alone, consuming large quantities of food at once and saving the rest for later. They travel widely to find food, utilizing a large territory they mark with scent.

Mating Behavior:

Polygynandry

Mating Description:

Amur leopards usually mate during the late winter to early spring. During this period, males and females will temporarily pair up. Males track females by following their scent trails and will fight other males for mating rights. The pair will stay together for several days and mate multiple times during this period to ensure successful fertilization.

Females give birth to a litter of one to four cubs after a gestation period of around 90-105 days. Cubs are born in a den, which the mother chooses carefully for safety. The cubs are blind and helpless at birth but develop quickly. They will stay with their mother until they are about one and a half to two years old, at which point they will leave to establish their territories.

Reproduction Season:

Year-round

Birth Type:

Viviparous

Pregnancy Duration:

~105 Days

Female Name:

Leopardess

Male Name:

Leopard

Baby Name:

Cub

Social Structure Description:

Amur leopards are solitary animals, only coming together to mate or when a female is raising her young. They are highly territorial and mark their territories with scent markings, also known as “sign-posting.” This is mainly done by males, who have larger territories overlapping with several females.

Though largely silent, Amur leopards will also communicate through various vocalizations. Their social structure and behavior are such that they require large territories to support their hunting habits, making them particularly vulnerable to habitat loss.

Groups:

Leap

Conservation Status:

Critically Endangered

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Wild: ~110 || Captivity: ~180

Currently, the wild population of Amur leopards is estimated to be between 90 and 110 individuals, which is slowly rising thanks to concerted conservation efforts. Their population has experienced a severe decline over the past century due to habitat loss, poaching, and a decrease in prey. The small population size leaves the species vulnerable to a “genetic bottleneck,” which reduces genetic diversity and can lead to inbreeding and increased susceptibility to disease.

However, the population trend is now increasing, thanks to the efforts of conservation organizations and governments to protect the Amur leopard. Captive breeding programs are also in place in various parts of the world to ensure the survival of this subspecies, although the exact numbers in captivity are unknown.

Population Threats:

The Amur leopard faces numerous threats, with habitat loss being the most pressing issue. As forests are logged and converted for other uses, the leopard’s territory shrinks and fragments, causing population isolation. Poaching for their beautiful fur is another major threat. Moreover, their prey is also often poached, leading to a reduction in their food source.

Other threats include conflict with humans, as leopards are occasionally perceived as a threat to livestock, and diseases, which can have a severe impact due to the low genetic diversity of the small population. In addition, climate change poses a potential long-term threat by altering their habitat.

Conservation Efforts:

Various organizations and governments are working to save the Amur leopard from extinction. Efforts include anti-poaching initiatives, forest fire control, compensation for farmers who lose livestock to leopards, and raising awareness among local communities. Establishing the Land of the Leopard National Park in Russia, which covers about 60% of the leopard’s habitat, is a significant step in conserving this species.

Captive breeding programs have been established to help increase the leopard’s population and preserve its genetic diversity. The goal is to reintroduce these animals back into secure, well-managed protected areas where they can survive. International cooperation and funding are critical to the continued success of these conservation strategies.

Additional Resources:

Fun Facts

Amur leopards can leap up to 19 feet horizontally and 10 feet vertically.
Their beautiful fur changes with the season – it’s lighter in summer and darker in winter.
They are known to live up to 20 years in captivity, which is significantly longer than in the wild.
The Amur leopard can run at speeds of up to 37 mph.
Unlike other big cats, Amur leopards love to swim.
Amur leopards are skilled climbers and often store their prey in trees.
Their large, thickly-furred paws act as snow shoes in the winter.
The territories of male Amur leopards often overlap with those of several females.
Cubs stay with their mother until they are about two years old.
Despite their solitary nature, they have a variety of vocalizations for communication.