Mammals
Amur leopard
Panthera pardus orientalis
The Amur leopard is the rarest leopard subspecies on Earth: a solitary cat adapted to the cold, with thick fur and wide, well-spaced rosettes. It clings on in a sliver of forest on the Russia–China border.
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In short
The amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) is a species with IUCN conservation status CR (Critically endangered). It lives in the temperate coniferous and broadleaf forests of the Russian Far East and north-east China, across some 9,000 km² spanning the Land of the Leopard National Park (Russia) and protected areas in China. Animals in Black offers a fine-art portrait of it on a black background, available as a print on Hahnemühle paper: view the print.
Habitat & conservation
Where does the amur leopard live?
It lives in the temperate coniferous and broadleaf forests of the Russian Far East and north-east China, across some 9,000 km² spanning the Land of the Leopard National Park (Russia) and protected areas in China. It is perfectly adapted to harsh winters and deep snow, where it follows prey such as the sika deer.
Is the amur leopard endangered?
Rated Critically Endangered (CR) by the IUCN Red List, it numbers about 130 mature individuals. After nearly going extinct (fewer than 30 animals in the 2000s) it is slowly recovering thanks to protection. Threats remain: poaching for fur and bones, fire and logging, prey scarcity and — for such a tiny population — inbreeding and diseases such as canine distemper.
Facts about the amur leopard
- It is the rarest leopard subspecies on the planet.
- In winter its fur grows up to 7 cm to shield it from the cold.
- In the 2000s fewer than 30 remained; today there are about 130.
- It hunts alone and can travel long distances over snow.
Data source: IUCN Red List · WWF
RED List
Conservation status codes
- EX Extinct No individuals survive.
- EW Extinct in the wild Survives only in captivity.
- CR Critically endangered Extremely high risk of extinction.
- EN Endangered Very high risk of extinction.
- VU Vulnerable High risk of extinction.
- NT Near threatened Likely to become threatened soon.
- LC Least concern Low risk of extinction.
- DD Data deficient Not enough data to assess.
- NE Not evaluated Not yet assessed by the IUCN.