When worlds collide: the Armur Leopard

Status:Critically endangerd

Population: if we are lucky about 30 left in the wild

Scientific name: Panthera pardus orientalis

Weight: between 70 and 105 pounds

Habitats: Temperate, Broadleaf, and Mixed Forests

Currently the number one ranking endangered species that still can be found in the wild.

People usually think of leopards in the savannas of Africa but in the Russian Far East, a rare subspecies has adapted to life in the temperate forests that make up the northern-most part of the species’ range. Similar to other leopards, the Amur leopard can run at speeds of up to 37 miles per hour. This incredible animal has been reported to leap more than 19 feet horizontally and up to 10 feet vertically.

The Amur leopard is solitary. Nimble-footed and strong, it carries and hides unfinished kills so that they are not taken by other predators. It has been reported that some males stay with females after mating, and may even help with rearing the young. Several males sometimes follow and fight over a female. They live for 10-15 years, and in captivity up to 20 years. The Amur leopard is also known as the Far East leopard, the Manchurian leopard or the Korean leopard.

The Amur leopard is important ecologically, economically and culturally. Conservation of its habitat benefits other species, including Amur tigers and prey species like deer. With the right conservation efforts, we can bring them back and ensure long-term conservation of the region.

PREY SCARCITY

There are still large tracts of suitable habitat left across the Amur in Russia and China. In China the prey base is insufficient to sustain large populations of leopards and tigers. Prey populations will recover if measures are taken to limit the poaching of prey species and the forests are managed for logging more sustainably. For the Amur leopard to survive for the long term, it needs to repopulate its former range. But for that to happen, prey populations need to recover first.

ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE

The Amur leopard is poached largely for its beautiful, spotted fur. In 1999, an undercover investigation team recovered a female and a male Amur leopard skin, which were being sold for $500 and $1,000 respectively in the village of Barabash, not far from the Kedrovaya Pad reserve in Russia. Agriculture and villages surround the forests where the leopards live. As a result the forests are relatively accessible, making poaching a problem—not only for the leopards themselves, but also for important prey species, such as roe deer, sika deer and hare, which are hunted by the villagers both for food and cash.

Most of the articles in the When worlds collide series will be linked to the WorldWildlife Foundation, this will be a running cause besides the CMC causes. With each species that is lost from our world we lose a part of our “god given” heritage., although I do not follow any religion in partcular I do believe that we are set onto this world to protect, maintain and if needed nurse it.

For 50 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature.

The world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF’s unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature.

Rerlated articles: http://dearkitty1.wordpress.com/2014/01/30/amur-leopards-new-video/ , http://greatcatsoftheworld.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/amur-news-find-out-about-the-latest-amur-news-l-alta/