Amur Leopard
CONSERVATION STATUS:
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
Amur Leopard Facts
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Panthera pardus orientalis
LIFE SPAN:
10-15 years
SIZE:
WEIGHT:
62-198Â pounds
DIET:
Amur leopards are strict carnivores, meaning that they can only survive by eating meat. Amur leopards do not eat vegetables. Their diet consists mainly of deer, badgers, and hares.
PReDATORS:
Amur leopards are apex predators, meaning that they are not hunted by other animals in their ecosystem. The Amur leopard will compete for space with the Amur tiger.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Amur leopards are different from other leopards because Amur leopards have cream-colored fur. This pale fur color can be seen especially in the winter months. The leopard’s fur is very thick and can grow to 7.5 cm thick. The fur in the summer months is much more vivid than in the winter months. The leopard’s tongue has denticles, or tiny hooks, that help scrape the meat of the bones of their prey. The Amur Leopard’s spots are called rosettes and are outlined by black fur.
BEHAVIOR:
Amur leopards are solitary, meaning they live alone for most of their lives. Leopards are good climbers and very strong swimmers. Unlike other species of leopards, Amur leopards live in very cold conditions and fur adaptations show how the Amur leopard survives in harsh conditions. The leopard can run up to 37 miles per hour and can jump 20 feet in the air.
THREATS:
The main threat to Amur leopards is poaching, for the leopard’s fur is highly desired among many people. Their furs can cost as much as $1000 when sold. Habitat loss and deforestation are also heavy factors in the loss of life for Amur leopards. There are so few leopards left in the wild that the gene pool is very small, meaning that Amur leopards will get many different viruses like canine distemper.
How can you Help?
Click here for WCS conservation efforts on the Amur Leopard
More education and facts about the Amur Leopard
Learn all you can about Amur Leopards and share with others.
Adopt an Amur Leopard here
Don’t buy leopard fur
