Far Eastern (Amur) leopard. Far Eastern leopard Where does the Far Eastern Amur leopard live?

Origin of the species and description

Ancient people believed that the leopard comes from the lion and the panther, being their hybrid. This is reflected in its name. Another name, “leopard,” comes from the language of the ancient Hatti people. The epithet "Far Eastern" is a reference to the geographical location of the animal's habitat.

The first mention of the Far Eastern leopard appeared in 1637 in a treaty between Korea and China. It said that Korea was supposed to supply the Chinese with 100 to 142 skins of these beautiful animals every year. The German scientist Schlegel elevated the Far Eastern leopard into a separate species in 1857.

Video: Far Eastern leopard

Research at the molecular genetic level shows that the relationship between representatives of the Panther genus is very close. The direct ancestor of the leopard originated in Asia, and soon after that it migrated to Africa and populated its territories. The found remains of the leopard date back 2-3.5 million years.

Based on genetic data, it was established that the ancestor of the Far Eastern (Amur) leopard is the North Chinese subspecies. The modern leopard, according to the study, arose approximately 400-800 thousand years ago, and after 170-300 thousand it spread to Asia.

Currently, there are about 30 individuals of this species in the wild and they all live in the southwest of the Russian Far East, slightly north of the 45th parallel, although at the beginning of the 20th century the range covered the Korean Peninsula, China, the Ussuri and Amur regions .

Appearance and features

Leopards are considered one of the most beautiful cats in the world, and the Far Eastern subspecies is the best of its kind. Experts often compare it with.

These slender animals have the following characteristics:

• Body length - from 107 to 138 cm;
• Tail length - from 81 to 91 cm;
• The weight of females is up to 50 kg;
• The weight of males is up to 70 kg.

In summer, the length of the coat is short and often does not exceed 2.5 cm. In winter, it becomes thicker, more luxuriant and grows up to 5-6 cm. Light yellow, reddish and yellowish-golden shades predominate in the winter color. In summer, the fur becomes brighter.

Multiple black spots or rings in the form of rosettes are scattered throughout the body. On the sides they reach dimensions of 5x5 cm. The front part of the muzzle is not framed by spots. There are dark markings near the whiskers and at the corners of the mouth. The forehead, cheeks and neck are covered with small spots. The back of the ears is black.

Interesting fact: The main function of color is camouflage. Thanks to it, natural enemies of animals cannot accurately determine their size, the impression of contours becomes deceptive and leopards become less noticeable against the background of the natural environment.

This color is called protective. Similar to human fingerprints, leopards' patterns are also unique, allowing individuals to be identified. The head is round and relatively small. The front part is slightly elongated. The ears are set wide and have a rounded shape.

The eyes are small with a round pupil. Vibrissae can be black, white or a mixed type and reach 11 cm in length. 30 long and sharp teeth. The tongue has tubercles covered with hardened epithelium, which allow meat to be picked from bones and help with washing.

Where does the Far Eastern leopard live?

These wild cats adapt well to any terrain, so they can live in any natural conditions. At the same time, they avoid populated areas and places that people often visit.

Criteria for choosing a place of residence:

• rock formations with ledges, cliffs and outcrops;
• gentle and steep slopes with cedar and oak forests;
• population exceeding 10 individuals per 10 square kilometers;
• presence of other ungulates.

The best option for choosing a habitat is the middle and end of the water stream flowing into the Amur Bay and the area of ​​the Razdolnaya River. This area extends over 3 thousand square kilometers, the altitude above sea level is 700 meters.

The abundance of ungulates in this area is a favorable condition for the settlement of predators in this area, as well as uneven terrain, slight snow cover in winter and coniferous-deciduous forests in which black fir and Korean cedar grow.

In the 20th century, leopards lived in southeastern Russia, the Korean Peninsula and northeastern China. Due to human encroachment into their range, the latter was divided into 3 separate areas, which contributed to the creation of 3 isolated populations. Now leopards live in the mountainous and forested area between Russia, China and the DPRK with a length of 10 thousand square kilometers.

What does the Far Eastern leopard eat?

The most active hunting hours are during the twilight hours and the first half of the night. In cloudy weather in winter, this can also happen during the day. They always hunt alone. Watching the prey from ambush, they creep up to it at 5-10 meters and with quick jumps overtake the prey, clinging to its throat.

If the prey was particularly large, leopards live near it for a week, protecting it from other predators. If a person approaches the carcass, wild cats will not attack or show aggression, but will simply return to the prey when the people leave.

Leopards are unpretentious when it comes to food and will eat everything they can catch. And it doesn’t matter what size the victim is.

It can be:

• young wild;
• roe deer;
• pheasants;
• insects;
• wapiti;
• birds.

Interesting fact: This type of leopard loves to eat dogs. Therefore, when entering the protected areas of the national park, there will definitely be a warning: “entry with dogs is prohibited.”

On average, leopards need one adult ungulate for several days. They can stretch out the meal for up to two weeks. If the population of ungulates is insufficient, the interval between their capture can be up to 25 days; the rest of the time, cats can snack on small animals.

To cleanse the stomach of hair (mostly its own, swallowed while washing), predators eat grass and cereal plants. Their feces contain up to 7.6% of plant residues that can cleanse the gastrointestinal tract.

Features of character and lifestyle

Being solitary by nature, Far Eastern leopards settle in separate territories, the area of ​​which for males reaches 238-315 square kilometers, the maximum recorded is 509, and for females it is usually 5 times less - 108-127 square kilometers.

They do not leave the chosen area of ​​their habitat for many years. Both in summer and winter they use the same paths and shelters for their offspring. The smallest territory is occupied by a female who has recently given birth. It is no more than 10 square kilometers. After a year, the territory increases to 40 square kilometers, and after that to 120.

The areas of different individuals may have common boundaries, and leopards may use the same mountain path together. Only the central part of the territory is zealously guarded, but not its cordons. Young males can hunt with impunity in someone else's area until they begin to mark it.

Most encounters are limited to threatening postures and growling. But situations are also possible when a weaker male dies in battle. The areas of females also do not overlap. Males' territories may overlap with 2-3 adult females.

Far Eastern leopards mainly mark not the cordons of their territories, but their central parts, scratching the bark of trees, loosening the soil and snow, marking territories with urine and excrement, and leaving traces. In most cases these are combined tags.

Interesting fact: The Far Eastern leopard subspecies is the most peaceful of its kind. In the entire history of their existence, not a single case of attack on a person has been recorded.

Social structure and reproduction

Amur leopards reach readiness to breed at 2.5-3 years. In females this happens a little earlier. Mating season usually occurs in the second half of winter. Pregnancy in females occurs once every 3 years and lasts 95-105 days. There can be from 1 to 5 cubs in a litter, more often 2-3.

Like ordinary cats, the mating period is accompanied by eerie screams, although leopards are usually silent and voice quite rarely. The greatest interest is noted in females whose kittens are in adolescence, when it is time to become independent. Dens for babies are usually set up in crevices or caves.

Kittens are born weighing 400-500 grams, with thick, spotted fur. After 9 days their eyes open. After a few more days they begin to crawl, and after a month they run well. By 2 months they leave the den and explore the territory with their mother. At the age of six months, babies can no longer follow their mother, but walk parallel to her.

From 6-9 weeks, the cubs begin to eat meat, but the mother still continues to feed them milk. At about 8 months, young cats master independent hunting. At the age of 12-14 months, the brood breaks up, but leopards can remain a group much longer, even after the birth of the next offspring.

Natural enemies of Far Eastern leopards

Other animals do not pose a particular danger to leopards and do not pose food competition. Leopards may be afraid of dogs, as hunters, and wolves, since they are pack animals. But, since the numbers of both in these areas are very small, there are no stumbling blocks between these animals and they do not influence each other in any way.

There is a popular belief that tigers can be enemies of leopards, but this is wrong. The Far Eastern leopard and the Amur tiger can easily coexist peacefully with each other. If a tiger tries to attack its relative, he can easily hide in a tree.

Competition due to hunting among these animals is also unlikely, because they both hunt sika deer, and their numbers in those places are very high and increase every year. The common lynx also poses no threat to leopards.

There is no food competition between leopards and the Himalayan bear, and their relationship is not hostile. Collisions can only arise due to the search for shelters of females with a brood. Experts have not yet established who has priority in choosing a den.

Among the scavengers, crows, bald eagles, golden eagles, and black vultures can feast on the prey of wild cats. Smaller remains can go to tits, jays, and magpies. But, one way or another, they are not considered to be food competitors of leopards. Foxes and raccoon dogs can finish eating a leopard if they know that it will not return to the prey.

Population and species status

In the entire history of observation of the Far Eastern leopard, it is known that its subspecies has never been numerous. Data from previous years on the number of individuals characterize the leopard as a typical predator, but small in number for the Far East. In 1870, there were mentions of the appearance of cats in the Ussuri region, but there were even fewer of them than Amur tigers.

The main reasons for the decrease in numbers are:

• Poaching;
• Fragmentation of the habitat, construction of highways, deforestation, frequent fires;
• Reduction in food supply due to the extermination of ungulates;
• Inbreeding results in depletion and poverty of genetic material.

In 1971-1973, there were approximately 45 individuals in the Primorsky Territory, and only 25-30 leopards were permanent residents, the rest were newcomers from the DPRK. In 1976, about 30-36 animals remained, of which 15 were permanent residents. Based on the results of the census in the 1980s, it became clear that leopards no longer live in western Primorye.

Subsequent studies showed stable numbers: 30-36 individuals. However, in February 1997, the population had dropped to 29-31 eastern leopards. Throughout the 2000s, this figure remained stable, although the level was frankly low. Genetic analysis identified 18 males and 19 females.

Thanks to strict protection of predators, the population was able to increase. Photo monitoring in 2017 showed positive results: 89 adult Amur leopards and 21 cubs were counted in the protected area. But, according to experts, at least 120 individuals are needed to create relative stability of the population.

Conservation of Far Eastern leopards

In the 20th century, the species was listed in the IUCN Red Book, the IUCN Red List, the Russian Red Book, and also in Appendix I of CITES. The subspecies is a critically endangered animal with a very limited range. Since 1956, hunting wild cats has been strictly prohibited in Russia.

The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation states that for killing a Far Eastern leopard, a poacher will be punished with imprisonment for up to 3 years, if it was not self-defense. If the murder occurred as part of an organized group, the participants face 7 years in prison and payment of damages in the amount of up to 2 million rubles.

Since 1916, the Kedrovaya Pad nature reserve has existed, located in the habitats of Amur leopards. Its area is 18 square kilometers. The Leopardovy reserve has been operating since 2008. It extends over 169 square kilometers.

In the Primorsky Territory there is a national park “Land of the Leopard”. Its area of ​​262 square kilometers covers approximately 60% of the entire habitat of Far Eastern leopards. The total area of ​​all protected zones is 360 square kilometers. This figure exceeds the area of ​​Moscow by one and a half times.

In 2016, a road tunnel was opened in order to preserve the Amur leopard population. Part of the highway now goes into it and the traditional routes of movement for predators have become safer. 400 infrared automatic cameras on the territory of nature reserves formed the largest monitoring network in the Russian Federation.

Although the king of animals is considered to be the lion, in terms of beauty of design, harmony of physique, strength, agility and agility, and elegance, not a single animal can compare with the Far Eastern leopard, which combines all the advantages of representatives of the cat family. Being beautiful and graceful, flexible and courageous, amur leopard appears in nature as an ideal predator.

The Far Eastern leopard is perhaps the only species of this animal that lives in Russia, namely in the Far East. It should also be noted that a small number of representatives of this species live in China. Another name for this species is the Amur leopard. It’s probably not worth describing the appearance of this predator, since it’s almost impossible to convey its beauty and grandeur in words.

The saddest thing is that at the moment the subspecies is on the verge of extinction, therefore it is listed in the Red Book. The population of the Far Eastern leopard is so small that the likelihood of its complete extinction is high. Therefore, the habitats of this predator are carefully protected. Experts in this field argue that it is possible to get out of the critical situation if we begin to implement environmental projects.

Description of the breed

Despite the fact that this type of predator is a cat, it has a fairly large number of differences. So, in the summer, the length of the coat is no more than 2.5 centimeters. But in the cold season, the coat becomes larger - up to 7 centimeters. The color also changes - in the summer it is more saturated, but in winter it becomes much lighter, which in fact has a completely logical explanation. The light color allows the animal to effectively camouflage itself and thus successfully hunt its prey.

The male weighs about 60 kilograms. Females are slightly smaller - rarely weighing more than 43 kilograms. It is worth noting the body structure of this predator - long legs allow it to move quickly not only in the warm season, but also during periods when everything is covered with a fairly large amount of snow.

As for its habitat, the leopard chooses relief areas, with various slopes, vegetation, and always water bodies. At the moment, the habitat of these animals is located on only 15,000 square kilometers in the Primorye region, as well as on the border with the DPRK and the PRC.

Life cycle

In the wild, that is, in its natural habitat, the Far Eastern leopard lives for about 15 years. Oddly enough, in captivity this representative of predators lives longer - about 20 years.

The mating season occurs in spring. Puberty in this species of leopard occurs after three years. Over the course of her entire life span, a female can give birth to 1 to 4 cubs. Maternal care lasts about 1.5 years. The mother breastfeeds her baby until about six months of age, after which gradual weaning occurs. Upon reaching the age of one and a half years, the leopard completely moves away from its parents and begins an independent life.

Nutrition

It should be noted that there are quite large areas in China that, in fact, are ideal for a leopard of this species to live and breed there. The only extremely negative circumstance is the lack of feed. At the same time, it should be noted that this extremely negative factor can be eliminated if the process of forest use by the population is regulated. In other words, these areas should be made protected areas and hunting should be prohibited there.

The critical decline in the number of Far Eastern leopards is due to the fact that animals are being shot in order to obtain beautiful, and therefore expensive, fur.

The only way to restore the numbers and natural habitat of this animal is to prevent the extermination of leopards by poachers and to take under protection those areas that are their habitat. As sad as it is, so far everything is heading towards the disappearance of this species of animals, and not an increase in their numbers.

Video about the Far Eastern leopard

A predator that belongs to the cat family. The Far Eastern leopard is a large animal; the male's body length can be 136 cm (females are slightly smaller). Weight ranges from 50 kg to 60 kg. Distributed in the mountain taiga forests of the Far East, on the border of three countries - China, Russia and North Korea. Nowadays, the Far Eastern (Amur) leopard is on the verge of extinction. This is the rarest of the subspecies: according to some data, no more than 40 individuals have survived in nature.

Red Book: Far Eastern leopard

The predator has thick, long fur. Particularly noticeable in winter attire. This beautiful cat is one of the most beautiful and very rare cats in the world. Recently, these animals have been added to the Russian Red Book. The Far Eastern leopard has received the status of an endangered species. This circumstance greatly worries environmentalists and animal rights activists. Today, efforts are being made to preserve the subspecies and increase its numbers.

The Far Eastern leopard, whose photo adorns many publications about predators in Russia, is listed in the IUCN Red Book, as well as in the Appendix of the International Convention CITES.

Despite the efforts being made, today experts consider the situation with these magnificent beauties to be catastrophic. And there is every reason for this. Over the last two decades alone, the leopard’s habitat in our country has been halved, and its numbers have decreased tenfold. Today there are no more than 30 individuals in Russia. In China, according to the latest data, there are no more than 10 animals. There is no information about the presence of these animals in Korea.

The predisposition to changes in the range and numbers of this beautiful animal in recent years looks threatening. The last, once reliable refuge of the Far Eastern leopard in our country, the south of Primorsky Krai, is also not protected. Deforestation is not decreasing, but is gaining momentum, vegetation is systematically burned, new roads are being reconstructed and laid, individuals that cause damage to deer herds are destroyed, and there are frequent cases when the Far Eastern leopard ends up in traps intended for other animals.

Cases of poaching have become more frequent, which is stimulated by the fashion for the luxurious skins of these animals.

External signs of a leopard

Many special publications publish its description on their pages. The Far Eastern leopard is an unusually graceful and slender cat with a thick and lush fur coat. This is the rarest species of cat on Earth.

His body is slender and incredibly flexible. The head is round and regular in shape.

The predator sheds twice a year. Its summer coat is distinguished by a shorter coat (2.5 cm), while its winter coat is rather dull, long, and has a thick undercoat (5 to 7 cm).

The paws are strong and slender, with strong retractable claws.

Color

The coat changes depending on the season. In winter, the Far Eastern (Amur) leopard is dressed in a fur coat of a rusty, red and golden or light yellow hue. In summer it acquires more saturated tones. Clearly defined rings or black spots are scattered throughout the skin. Eyes blue-green or gray-blue.

Habitat

When people think of leopards, most people think of the savannahs of Africa. Despite this, there is a rare subspecies of these animals that lives in the forests of the Far East and northern China. That is why it received the name Far Eastern leopard; it is often called the Amur leopard. As already mentioned, the population is in critical condition, but there is still hope for the restoration of this subspecies. Consider the fact that its equally magnificent cousin, the Amur tiger, has increased its population in less than 60 years. But once upon a time there were also fewer than 40 tigers.

Experts believe that the Far Eastern leopard, the photo of which you see in the article, can be saved subject to the implementation of environmental projects.

This beautiful predator lives in temperate forests with a wide temperature range. Today the leopard lives in an area of ​​about 5,000 square meters. km. A viable population of this subspecies remains in the wild in the Primorsky Territory (RF), between China and Vladivostok.

Main threats

According to scientists who are concerned about the life of the Far Eastern leopard, in 13 years (1970 - 1983) this predator lost more than 80% of its habitat.

Fortunately, today there are forest areas that are suitable for leopards to live. These areas should be protected from the harmful influence of humans.

Lack of loot

There are vast areas on Chinese soil that would be quite suitable for these animals. However, the level of food supply in these territories is insufficient to maintain the population at the proper level. It is possible to increase the amount of prey, but this requires regulating human use of forests and taking urgent and effective measures to protect ungulates from poachers. In order for the Far Eastern leopard population to recover, it needs to replenish its former habitat.

Poaching

The leopard of the Far East, like no other predator, is subject to illegal hunting because of its beautiful and expensive fur. An undercover investigative team conducted an experiment: they recreated the skin of a female and a male of this animal, and then sold them for $5,000 and $10,000, respectively. The “deal” took place in the village of Barabash, not far from the Kedrovaya Pad nature reserve.

This experiment showed that even today there are illegal markets for such products located in animal habitats. In these areas, poaching becomes a much more serious problem than in areas further away from people.

Conflict with a person

Amur leopards are very vulnerable because deer form part of their diet. In the Far East, people have made their “contribution” to reducing the number of deer. This is explained by the special value of the horns of these animals in Asian medicine. In turn, this does not allow the leopard to receive food in sufficient quantities. In this regard, animals often wander into reindeer herding farms in search of food. It is only natural that farm owners protect their investments and kill predators.

Inbreeding

This magnificent predator is also under threat because its population in the wild is extremely small. This makes it vulnerable to various disasters - forest fires, disease, changes in the ratio of mortality and birth rates, sex ratios (for example, cubs that were born within the last few years may turn out to be males). In addition, inbreeding depression is an important factor. Family ties have been registered, and this fact does not exclude possible genetic problems, including decreased fertility. Such matings are quite common in nature in some populations of big cats, but they by no means allow for outbreeding in very small populations, which undoubtedly includes the Far Eastern leopard.

Food

The diet of this predator is based on wild artiodactyls - roe deer and sika deer. When food is scarce, the leopard feeds on badgers, Manchurian hares, wild boars, red foxes, etc.

A leopard can withstand hunger for up to twenty days.

Lifestyle

The Far Eastern leopard is a crepuscular animal. He goes hunting in the evening or at night. Rarely, but if very hungry, it can pursue prey during the daytime.

It most often attacks its prey from an ambush. The predator approaches it very carefully, trying to use the local terrain to get closer. The leopard goes to water only when it is dusk in the forest.

The beast has very sharp vision. He can see his prey at a great distance (up to 1.5 km). But with hearing and smell the situation is somewhat worse.

The Far Eastern leopard is an excellent tree climber. Even large prey is easily dragged onto the branches.

At short distances it develops a very decent speed (55 km/h). This cat doesn't really like to swim.

Often uses roads and paths made by humans. He is not afraid of him, does not attack, but simply tries to leave unnoticed. It cannot stand the constant presence of a person - it leaves such places forever.

Lives in one area for many years, walks along the same paths and uses the same brood dens.

Social structure

Leopards prefer solitude, but can live in pairs and families.

On the male's property there are several areas of females, which reach an area of ​​60-100 sq. km. In this territory she lives with her offspring. Leopards regularly walk around their properties and place their characteristic marks on trees at their borders. You can often see so-called scrapes on the ground.

Puberty and pregnancy

The animal reaches full maturity by 3 years. Males mature somewhat later than females. The female carries her cubs for 90 to 105 days.

Reproduction

Far Eastern leopards are polygamous. One male courts several females. The female produces cubs only once every two years. The predator makes a lair in caves, crevices, under the roots of fallen trees in secluded, remote places. The male is the visiting father. He visits the female and kittens from time to time. Sometimes he helps hunt.

Leopards breed throughout the year, but the peak occurs in January.

Offspring

Usually 1-3 blind, adorable spotted kittens are born. They weigh an average of 600 g, body length is 15-17 cm. Small predators open their eyes at 7-9 days. When the babies are a little over a month old, they leave the den for the first time. At two months, mother begins to feed them meat. At three months, the child's fur pattern changes to an adult one (the spots turn into rosettes). The offspring live with their mother for up to two years.

Danger to humans

Of all the representatives of this group, the Far Eastern leopard is the most peaceful. It does not attack humans - not a single case has been recorded over the past 50 years. Very rarely attacks domestic animals.

It follows from this that this predator is not a threat to humans.

"The Far Eastern leopard. The struggle for the throne"

In December 2014, this amazing documentary created by Russian filmmakers was released on the screens of our country.

Every person on our planet should see this film. The Far Eastern leopard is shown in it as no one has ever seen it before. Cautious and elusive animals appear out of nowhere and quickly disappear into nowhere, as if dissolving in the vastness of the wild and beautiful Far Eastern taiga.

For a long time (more than a year), the film crew collected unique material in order to shoot those very shots that no one had yet been able to do. This is a desperate struggle for survival, raising cubs, eating and hunting, details of the complex relationships in one family of leopards and their competition with other animals.

The main character of the film was the most beautiful, graceful female Kedrovka. Neighbors in the taiga forest began to constantly steal her prey, and predators seek to kill her kittens. A desperate mother is forced to leave her lair near the Kedrovaya River and take her babies deep into the Ussuri taiga.

With the onset of winter, not far from the den that Kedrovka was forced to leave, the carcass of a deer suddenly appeared. Who got it? Kedrovka herself, one of her surviving and matured kittens, or maybe a new animal has appeared in these wild taiga lands, laying claim to the “taiga throne”?

In order to answer these numerous questions and at the same time capture amazing footage from the life of the most mysterious cats of prey on earth, the team from the My Planet studio turned the territory of the Leopard Land park into an unusually large filming location. The documentarians used the most advanced, truly unique, state-of-the-art technologies and hidden cameras. It is especially important that the film crew observed the most important condition - maintaining the calm of the predators; nothing should frighten them or force them to leave their usual habitats.

Today we introduced you to the most beautiful and rarest predatory cat on Earth. I really want to believe that the Far Eastern leopard will survive, so that in a few years we will not remember it in the past tense. The next generations should see them, they should know about this amazing animal that man so mercilessly exterminated.

Of all the animals listed in the Red Book of Russia, amur leopard , probably, is in the most unenviable position. Today, according to experts, about 30-40 leopards live in the Far East. In neighboring China there are no more than 10 individuals.

The number of Amur panthers, as the leopard is also called, began to decline sharply in the 20th century. The hunt for him was carried out even before the revolution, but has not yet been of such a large-scale nature. In the 20-30s, this cat was declared an “enemy of the people”, as it destroys species of ungulates valuable to humans. And this enemy was destroyed at the first opportunity.

In the 50s of the last century, the attitude towards the predator changed sharply in the opposite direction and it was taken under state protection. Nature reserves were created, a fairly competent policy was pursued to preserve the species on Earth, as a result of which its numbers stabilized and even began to increase.

In the “roaring nineties,” the life of Far Eastern leopards noticeably worsened. Poaching attacks, the human factor, and reductions in spending on environmental protection almost led to the complete destruction of the species.

Its skin and some organs, which are used in alternative medicine in China, are especially valuable on the black market. Poachers are not afraid of the punishment for killing a rare animal - they very rarely give real sentences, and the fine for legal entities is 500 thousand rubles. True, now (in February 2013) the State Duma Committee on Natural Resources is developing a bill that will seriously tighten responsibility for catching, transporting killed animals or their parts, and illegal trafficking.

Poachers and buyers for the Amur tiger and the Far Eastern leopard will now have to not only pay a fine of half a million rubles, but also serve a sentence of at least 5 years. But these measures are still very mild compared to Chinese legislation. In the Celestial Empire, those responsible for killing, selling or purchasing these big cats face capital punishment.

Life in conditions of survival.

In the photo you have already seen how beautiful this animal is. The leopard's body is very flexible and graceful. Its length rarely exceeds 140 cm, height at the withers is no more than 80 cm, and the body weight of an adult male is 45-50 kg. The fluffy tail can reach 70-80 cm. The coloring and shape of the patterns of each individual is very individual, by which you can distinguish one animal from another.

The Amur leopard is a crepuscular predator. Goes out hunting in the evening. Most often it hunts by hiding. His keen vision helps him see prey more than a kilometer away!

The basis of its diet is made up of wild ungulates - small wild boars, roe deer, wapiti, and musk deer. Sometimes a hungry leopard approaches human habitation and attacks domestic animals. This, however, happens extremely rarely.

The Far Eastern panther is not averse to feasting on the Manchurian hare, common foxes, animals of the mustelid family (ermine, sable, weasel), common squirrels, and some birds. Even prickly hedgehogs cannot escape from it. Raccoons, which often hide from danger in trees, do not escape from the leopard in this way - the leopard itself, like the lynx, climbs well into the tree crown.

In general, all panthers, and Amur ones especially, are born tacticians! Having discovered the victim, they manage to approach it at a distance of up to 5-10 meters! The spotted predator does all this so quietly that the cautious musk deer with acute hearing cannot sense the approach of danger. He sneaks, taking advantage of all the advantages of the terrain.

Then the leopard overtakes its unsuspecting prey in one or two lunges. But this doesn't always happen. Very often he has to catch up with fast hares or deer. Adult Far Eastern panthers are capable of running at a speed of 50-60 km/h.

It does not immediately eat large animals. An average-sized roe deer lasts him 4 days or even a week or more. He protects the carcass of killed prey from other predators and even birds. Sometimes he can drag her up a tree - the Amur leopard has enough strength!

Our spotted animal does not refuse carrion, which already gives off an unpleasant odor.

Leads a solitary lifestyle. Each animal secures the territory in which it hunts. One male’s “area” can reach 450 square meters. km. Females occupy a territory of 50-100 square meters. km.

Leopards mark their territories and protect them from uninvited guests. Territorial disputes often arise between predators, which are resolved by force. In a fight, leopards inflict serious injuries on each other, which often ends in the death of one of them.

But fights for land occur only between individuals of the same sex. A male and a female living next door calmly enter each other’s areas.

In winter, the leopard begins its mating season. Males try to win the attention of the female, and fights occur between males. One male fertilizes several females.

Pregnancy lasts 3-3.5 months. The female goes to remote places where she makes a nest. She gives birth in small caves and crevices, under the roots of trees torn out by the wind.

Up to 3 small kittens are born. Blind, weak cubs weigh about 500 g, and their size is such that they easily fit into a human palm.

In the first months, their main food will be mother's milk. After 30-40 days they will get stronger and begin to leave the den. Then they will taste meat for the first time in their lives.

Over the course of two years, the mother will teach the kittens hunting skills. Having matured, they leave their mother and look for their own areas to live.

Always avoids being close to people. The stronger Amur tiger is also crowding out the Far Eastern panther - they are each other's food competitors.

Despite the fact that this spotted cat is a predator, it is not the first to attack humans. Noticing people from afar, she tries to leave silently.

The Far Eastern leopard is one of the most beautiful animals on our planet, so our main task is to preserve this species for future generations! If no protection and conservation measures are taken, this animal may disappear in the coming months. I hope we don't have to talk about the leopard in the past tense.

The Far Eastern leopard, also known as the Amur, East Siberian, Manchurian leopard or leopard, is a fairly large mammal belonging to the cat family and the class of predators.

Today, the animal is on the verge of extinction and has an extremely limited habitat, and most of it is located in the Russian Federation.

Description

This animal is the rarest subspecies of the panther family. In Latin its name sounds like Panthera pardus orientalis– this is exactly what the animal is called in international guides.

The animal is quite large in size (body up to 136 cm in length and weight up to 50 kg) and leads a secretive, twilight lifestyle. Every year, the habitat of this magnificent predator is reduced, which is associated with the expansion of human possessions: the construction of highways, logging and hunting for potential food for the animal.

Since the 20th century, the animal has been protected by the World Conservation Fund and is included in the International and Russian Red Book.

Considering the love of wealthy citizens for exotic pets, this mammal is included in the list I CITES, which makes it possible to prevent its capture from its habitat and the keeping of this representative of the fauna in private nurseries.

Far Eastern leopards are predators that lead a nocturnal or crepuscular lifestyle. He is not picky about food, and his diet includes almost all representatives of the fauna of Southern Primorye. The exception is large predators, which compete with the leopard on hunting grounds. However, these animals do not pose a significant threat to the life of this species, since cases of interspecific fights are the exception rather than the rule.

Less than 50 years ago, the leopard was found in the southern regions of the Usuri region, in Northeast China and on the Korean Peninsula. But due to active human settlement and deforestation, the population of this predator decreased significantly and the habitat was divided into 3 isolated areas - 3 populations kind.

Today the situation has only worsened, since these impressive predators can only be found in an isolated area of ​​10-15 thousand km2, located on the border of the Russian Federation, China and the DPRK. In Russia, wild animals are the most common, and the number of individuals is 40–50 animals. This is the largest figure, because 8–11 animals are believed to live in China.

This information is often subject to doubt, since there is a high probability that these felines simply wandered into the lands of the People's Republic of China from Russian Primorye in search of prey. Wild cats have not been recorded on the Korean Peninsula for a long time. Although in the 20th century it was claimed that about 40 individuals of this species successfully live within the reservation located near Paektusan.

However, research by zoologists conducted in the 90s of the last century could not prove this statement, since no reliable traces of this animal were found.

This representative of the cat family is rightfully one of the most beautiful inhabitants of our planet. After all, this animal is the owner of luxurious fur, with an incredible pattern. The beast has a slender, flexible silhouette, which is complemented by a long tail. The body of the animal is slightly elongated and complemented by a rounded head. The leopard is silent, which is due to the presence of slender and powerful paws.

The sizes of males and females have some differences. Thus, representatives of the stronger sex are larger: the body length is up to 136 cm, and the tail is up to 90 cm. Females are slightly smaller. Their body length is up to 112 cm, and their tail is up to 73 cm. The weight of the Far Eastern leopard is a controversial issue. According to various sources, their weight can be up to 53 – 60 kg.

This parameter is determined by the tracks found, the depth and size of which indicate the estimated parameters of the animal that passed. The height of the animal at the withers is 64 - 78 cm. The length of the hind foot reaches 24 - 27 cm. The fur of the animals is striking in its beauty. In a physically healthy representative of this species, it is smooth and shiny. In summer, the length of the coat is up to 2.5 cm.

With the onset of cold weather, the Far Eastern leopard warms itself. The thickness of its fur increases, and the length of the coat is already 5–7 cm. Sexual dimorphism is manifested only in the size of individuals, while the coloring of representatives of this species does not differ between males and females.

The color of the animal may vary. In the cold season, shades from pale yellow to rusty tones with splashes of gold predominate. With warming, the color becomes brighter and more saturated. Against this background, black rings or spots are visualized.

Far Eastern leopards have impressive yellow eyes with oval-shaped pupils located vertically. With the onset of night, a standard reaction is observed, accompanied by dilation of the pupils. This is due to the need to perceive less concentrated light sources and see in the dark. The animal's claws are light in color, reminiscent of wax, with whitish tips.

These murder weapons are impressive in size: up to 55 mm. However, it shows them only when necessary; at rest, the claws are hidden between the pads on the paws. This ensures silent movement and keeps the beast's weapon sharp.

This feline is not comfortable in every landscape. The first factor that matters is privacy, absence of road noise and almost complete exclusion of humans. Also, a wild predator is demanding in terms of having a sufficient amount of food. Therefore, the minimum population of roe deer in his domain should be at least 10 - 11 individuals per 1000 m2.

This representative of felines prefers mixed forests of the Manchurian type. These are predominantly coniferous and broad-leaved trees growing in rugged terrain. Also, wild animals prefer areas with rocky outcrops, slopes, various reservoirs, rivers - places where they can hide and easily hide from threats.

This representative of the feline is a predator leading a solitary lifestyle. One adult individual has hunting grounds of 239–509 km2. Usually such massive possessions belong to males, while females need much smaller possessions - up to 128 km2. A wild animal can coexist with representatives of the opposite sex, rigidly protecting the center of its territory from brothers of the same sex.

This representative of the feline defends its possessions only from seizure attempts. So, a male can attack another male if he tried to mark his territory. Young representatives of the same sex are allowed to cross the domain of the dominant male and even hunt them.

Scientists note the presence of hunting trails used by several leopards at once. It is crepuscular or nocturnal, leaving its shelter approximately 2 hours before sunset and returning to it by the middle of the night. But several cases of leopard hunting during the day have been recorded. This is the exception rather than the rule. Animals usually form dens on a permanent basis. They do not leave their shelters throughout their lives or several years.

Nutrition

Leopards are not too picky when it comes to food, because the population of potential prey is rapidly decreasing, so the animal does not disdain small prey. The basis of the predator’s diet consists of the following fauna:

1. Roe deer.
2. Noble deer.
3. Seals.
4. or piglets.
5. Red deer calves.

In the absence of the main hunting objects, the animal easily switches to badgers, hares, raccoon dogs, pheasants and hazel grouse. Scientists have also recorded cases of leopard attacks on small moose calves, cubs or wounded bears. They do not disdain carrion. After all, an adult’s hunger strike can last no more than 14 days. Plants are also included in the animal's diet.

This information was obtained by examining feces in which traces of flora representatives were found. Typically, an animal eats grass to cleanse the gastrointestinal tract, and not as a necessary addition to the diet.

Achieving sexual maturity in this representative of the feline occurs at 24 - 36 months - not earlier. And females have the opportunity to conceive only once every 3 years, which is extremely low for representatives of the animal world.

Attention!

The Far Eastern leopard is on the verge of extinction due to extremely slow reproduction, because pregnancy occurs only in 80% of cases, and the number of cubs raised by a female usually consists of 1 - 2 kittens. For comparison, other felines usually have 3–6 kittens. In addition, the number of sexually mature individuals ready for reproduction is extremely small.

These wild animals are polygamous. Far Eastern leopards form pairs only for the mating period, which coincides with the females' estrus: late autumn - early winter. It is during the rutting period that it is easier to find animals, since males actively make themselves known with loud roars and roars, which often leads to fights over the right to possess a representative of the opposite sex.

Spotted cats are chosen for courtship and mating in January. Males prefer females with an already adult litter, the kittens from which are ready to begin independent life. Therefore, matings occur after the expulsion of the previous offspring or directly in front of them. After mating is completed, the female sets up a den. To do this, the animal chooses rock crevices and caves.

The female's pregnancy lasts on average 90–105 days, after which kittens are born. Normally, a litter consists of 1 – 4 kittens. However, the percentage of early mortality is high, so by the time the female leaves the den (2–3 months after birth), she has 1–2 cubs left.

A formidable predator is born weighing only 400 - 600 g. Kittens are initially blind and begin to see only 7–9 days after birth. From 12 to 15 days they actively crawl, and from 35 days they walk. The lactation period for the female is 3–6 months, after which the kittens are switched to meat. Starting from 2 to 3 months after birth, the mother regurgitates semi-digested food to make it easier for the babies to eat it.

But then the young leopard is switched to raw meat. At 8 months, learning the basics of hunting and searching for prey begins. By the age of 10–11 months, kittens are ready for independent hunting trips. Kittens usually stay with their mother until they are 13–14 months old, after which they begin an independent, solitary life.

The leopard is included in the general biological classification. This species is on the verge of extinction, therefore, in addition to standardizing it according to certain characteristics, scientists regularly monitor the dynamics of increase or decrease in the animal’s population.

The place of the Far Eastern leopard in the general taxonomy looks like this:

1. Eukaryote.
2. Animal.
3. Chordata.
4. Mammal.
5. Predator.
6. Feline.
7. Panther.
8. Leopard.
9. Far Eastern leopard.

Scientists also systematized observations of the dynamics of the animal population. Thus, from 2007 to 2013, an increase in the number of predator individuals was recorded from 33 – 36 to 34 – 50. Which is already a success. However, the positive dynamics do not mean that the threat of extinction has disappeared.

Meaning

Predators are forest orderlies. After all, the animal not only hunts, but also helps eliminate carrion from the landscape, which helps reduce the spread of various diseases and dangerous infections among forest inhabitants.

Status of this animal: on the verge of extinction. Therefore, people are doing everything possible to preserve its population. After all, each representative of the fauna plays its role. Thus, the wild cat regulates the population of herbivores, which contributes to the development of forests. Indeed, in the absence of predators, roe deer and deer would easily destroy all plantings, moving to gardens and fields of national importance. Which would lead to food shortages.

Enemies

wild animals are tolerant of competing predators. However, encounters with some animals may result in a fight. Among the potentially dangerous animals it is worth highlighting:

• Domestic dogs.
• Wolves.
• Tigers.

It is domestic dogs that pose the greatest danger to this predator. After all, the spotted animal most often becomes a victim of their attacks. Meetings with a hungry pack of wolves can also end sadly. Fights with tigers and bears are extremely rare.

The leopard is listed in the International and Russian Red Book. It is classified in the first category, which indicates the extreme vulnerability of the species and its extinction. International and Russian programs have been developed to protect and restore the animal population. Scientists and the government strictly prohibited hunting of this animal, as well as its capture or sale to private nurseries.

The territory where the spotted beauty lives is protected by law, therefore any agricultural activity, like deforestation, is strictly prohibited there. Due to the spread of poaching, the government has tightened the punishment for 1 killed Far Eastern leopard. So, if the culprit is a single hunter, he faces a fine and up to 3 years in prison.

If a group of people hunted, the term of imprisonment increases to 7 years, and the fine increases to 2 million.

1. The wild beast is one of the most secretive animals.
2. To monitor it, scientists use hidden cameras that turn on when motion sensors are triggered.
3. This is due to the fact that the animal usually notices people located in a hidden position and simply bypasses them.
4. An additional factor for research is animal tracks. From these, scientists make casts, which are studied in detail in the laboratory.
5. Based on their depth and size, zoologists can calculate the approximate size, weight and age of an individual.
6. Another interesting fact is the originality of the drawing.
7. Each wild animal has an individual location and number of spots.
8. There are no two identical individuals in the world.
9. It is by drawing that scientists distinguish animals whose images were obtained from hidden cameras.

He is the most intelligent sea inhabitants. They know how to talk to each other, hunt well in groups, and have excellent tactics.