Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Panthera
Species: Pardus
Subspecies: Orientalis
The Amur leopard is a species of leopard native to Russia and a small part of China. Unlike their cousins that relax in the open Savannahs of Africa, the Amur leopard has adapted to live in the temperate forests. They are the rarest big cat in the world. There are now conservation efforts trying to save the leopard from extinction like providing protected areas of forest for them to live in. So far these efforts seem to be successful. At one point there were only 35 Amur leopards left in the wild. Recently the population has risen to 57, but that is still a very small number. One of the biggest threats that they face is the loss of their habitat from logging and poaching for their beautiful fur coat. They are also known as the Far East leopard, the Manchurian leopard and the Korean leopard.
1. They usually live between 10-15 years in the wild.
2. They can carry three times their weigh up a tree.
3. They carry their prey up the tree so that other animals won’t try to steal their meal.
4. They hunt silka deer, hares, wild boar and badgers.
5. They can run up to 35 mph for sort distances.
6. Males weigh between 80 and 198 pounds.
7. Females weigh between 60 and 130 pounds.
8. Because they live in a colder climate the leopards grow long thick fur in the winter.
9. Their winter coats are very pale.
10. They hunt at night.
11. They can survive 12 to 25 days between catching prey.
12. Their habitat is near the intersection of Russia, China and Korea.
