Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis); this individual is in a zoo.
Image: William Warby, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Increasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The Amur leopard is a rare northern subspecies of the leopard that lives in the cold temperate forests of the Russian Far East and adjacent north-east China. It is assessed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Adapted to snowy winters, it grows a thick, pale coat with widely spaced rosettes — a striking contrast to leopards of the tropics.
Range & habitat
A leopard subspecies of the temperate forests of the Russian Far East and adjacent north-east China.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Poaching of leopards and of the prey they depend on
- Habitat loss from logging and fires
- A very small population with low genetic diversity
Why it matters
As the top cat of its forests, the Amur leopard helps keep deer and other prey populations in balance, and its recovery is a high-profile test of cross-border conservation.
The Amur leopard is a northern subspecies of the leopard (Panthera pardus); cross-border protection has reportedly lifted its numbers from a few dozen to over a hundred.
Gallery
Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis); a zoo individual.
Image: Colin Hines www.ColinHinesPhotography.com, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for Amur Leopard
- IUCN Red List — look up Amur Leopard (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Amur leopards are left?
Is the Amur leopard a separate species?
Last updated: