The Amur leopard is one of the rarest big cats on Earth, with fewer than 100 left in the wild. It lives in the temperate forests of the Russian Far East and parts of northeastern China, where winters are long, snowy, and cold. That’s why this leopard has a thick, luxurious coat, with long, dense fur that helps it stay warm in freezing weather.
Unlike lions and tigers, leopards are solitary and stealthy. Amur leopards hunt alone, mostly at night, using their keen eyesight and silent paws to sneak up on prey like deer, hares, and birds. They’re powerful climbers and jumpers, too—and can leap over 10 feet in a single bound!
Each leopard has a unique pattern of spots, kind of like a fingerprint. This helps researchers identify individual leopards in the wild using trail cameras and conservation tracking tools.
Sadly, Amur leopards are critically endangered, threatened by poaching, habitat loss, and the decline of their prey. But there’s good news: thanks to wildlife protection laws, anti-poaching efforts, and zoo-based breeding programs, their numbers are starting to grow again.
In zoos, Amur leopards live in specially designed habitats that mimic their forest homes, with rocks, trees, and platforms for climbing, resting, and exploring. Many zoos are part of Species Survival Plans (SSPs) that help protect and possibly reintroduce these amazing cats into the wild.
