Amur Leopard(Panthera pardus orientalis)
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. They are 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. They differ from other leopard subspecies by its thick fur that is pale cream-colored, particularly in winter.
Rosettes on the flanks are 5 cm × 5 cm and widely spaced, up to 2.5 cm, with thick, unbroken rings and darkened centres. Its fur is fairly soft with long and dense hair. The length of hair on the back is 20–25 mm in summer and up to 70 mm in winter. The winter coat varies from fairly light yellow to dense yellowish-red with a golden tinge or rusty-reddish-yellow. In summer, the fur is brighter with more vivid colouration pattern. It is rather small in body size, with males larger than females. Males measure from 107–136 cm with an 82–90 cm long tail, a shoulder height of 64–78 cm, and a weight of 32.2–48 kg. Females weigh from 25–42.5 kg.
Habitat
In the Russian Far East, the Amur leopard inhabits an area of about 7,000 km2 today. It is well adapted to a cold climate and snow. Leopards cross between Russia, China, and North Korea across the Tumen River despite a high and long wire fence marking the boundary. The first camera trap image of an Amur leopard in northeastern China was taken in 2010 in Hunchun National Nature Reserve located in the Changbai Mountains in Jilin and Heilongjiang Provinces.
This habitat consists of broadleaved conifer and Korean pine forests at altitudes of 600–1,200 m, where the annual average temperature is about 1.5 °C. In this area, leopards were repeatedly photographed by camera traps set up between January 2013 and July 2014 covering up to 4,858 km2. Elsewhere in China, leopard range is fragmented with small populations occurring foremost in isolated reserves. In Shanxi Province, leopards were recorded in 16 protected areas during camera trapping surveys between 2007 and 2014. In Shaanxi Province, leopards were recorded in six nature reserves, including Foping National Nature Reserve.
Diet
These kinds of animals predominantly eat hare, deer, mountain goats, moose, musk deer, wild pig, mice, fowl, Manchurian wapiti, black bears, and badgers.
Breeding
Amur leopards become sexually mature at the age of 2–3 years. They are able to reproduce up to 10–15 years of age. Estrus lasts 12–18 days, and in exceptional cases up to 25 days. Gestation lasts 90–105 days, and usually between 92-95 days. A newborn cub weighs 500–700 g. The young open their eyes on the 7th–10th day and begin to crawl on the 12th–15th day. By the second month, they emerge from their dens and also begin to eat meat. Cubs are weaned when three months old, and then learn to hunt. Lactation continues for five or six months. Cubs reach independence at the approximate age of two to three years. They stay with their mother until they are around 18 months to two years old. Juveniles sometimes stay with their mother until she comes into estrus again. Until the 1970s, cubs were seen in Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve and in northeastern China most often between the end of March and May. Litters comprised two to three cubs. In captivity, some individuals have lived for 21 years.
Population
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