Far Eastern (Amur) leopard - a brief description. Far Eastern leopard, or Amur leopard, or Amur leopard Habitat of the Far Eastern leopard
Amur leopard or leopard - the most rare breed leopards and the most rare cats found in wild nature. In total, no more than 40 individuals of this breed remained in nature, as well as several specimens are kept in zoos, but due to close kinship, they practically cannot breed. Interesting Facts about the Amur leopard
The average body length of a leopard is about 120 cm. However, it can reach up to 140 cm. Leopards have very a long tail which can be up to 1m long.
The average weight of a female is 40kg, the average weight of a male is 50kg.
The fur on the belly of leopards is 3-4 cm longer than in other places, which allows him to easily carry cold weather and lie on the snow and cold stones.
Average life expectancy in the wild is 12-15 years, in captivity up to 20 years (record 21 years)
The territory of the halo of one male is on average 5 times larger than that of females and can reach 500 sq. km. Leopards are very zealous in protecting their territory from other individuals of their species, unlike the Ussuri tigers, and conflicts over territories and leopards are particularly cruel, up to death.
Strange as it may seem, the main reason for the disappearance is not a human hunt for a leopard, but its destruction. natural environment habitat. One leopard needs a lot of food to feed. And for example in North Korea There are no areas suitable for the habitation of the Amur Leopard, and leopards often die from starvation.
Leopards are polygamous, one male can care for several females at the same time.
Over the past 50 years, no cases of attacks on humans have been recorded (possibly due to its low population)
The only place where this type of leopard breeds is the Kedrovaya Pad Reserve. On the this moment up to 8 individuals constantly live in the reserve, which regularly bring offspring, which continue their life outside the reserve. At the same time, if the animals settle near the reserve, they are practically doomed to death due to the lack of a sufficient food supply.
In China for murder Far Eastern leopard provided for the death penalty
Although a rare subspecies of leopards can be found on Far East our country, as well as in the north of China. This subspecies is called Far Eastern amur leopard. He is also known as Amur leopard.
This predator was listed in the Red Book. It belongs to a subspecies that is on the verge of extinction. The Far Eastern leopard population is in critical condition today.
At the same time, the moment that Amur tiger- its famous "cousin" - has increased the number of its population, gives hope for the preservation of this subspecies. There is an opinion that the Amur leopard, the photo of which is presented in this article, can be saved through the implementation of various environmental projects.
Description of the breed
This leopard has many distinctive features from other felines. AT summer period wool reaches 2.5 centimeters in length, and in winter it is replaced by 7 centimeters. In frosts, the Amur leopard has a light coat color with a reddish-yellow tint, while in summer more saturated and bright colors predominate.
The Far Eastern Amur leopard (photos of the animal are presented in this article) has long legs allowing him to walk freely in the snow. At the same time, the weight of males reaches 48 kg, although there are also larger representatives of the breed - 60 kg. Females weigh up to 43 kg.
habitation
At the beginning of the 20th century, the leopard was found in the south of the Sikhote-Alin, as well as in the southwestern part, although in last years he was not identified there. At present, the Amur leopard lives in the mountain forest regions of the southwestern part of Primorsky Krai, where it clearly prefers cedar-black-fir-broad-leaved forests. It is less willing to populate especially pyrogenic oak forests, the areas of which are increasing due to annual fires.
This representative of the Cat family chooses territories with steep slopes of hills, rugged terrain, watersheds and rocky outcrops. Its range has now been reduced to a critical size and covers only a mountain forest limited area of 15 thousand km² (in Primorye, from to the Razdolnaya River, as well as on the border with the DPRK and the PRC).
Historical distribution
Today, the distribution of the subspecies has shrunk to a small fraction of its historical original range. Initially, the Far Eastern leopard lived throughout the northeastern part of Manchuria, in the provinces of Heilongjiang and Jilin, including, in addition, on the Korean Peninsula.
and reproduction
In the Amur leopard, puberty occurs at the age of 3 years. In the wild, life expectancy is about 15 years, while in captivity it is 20 years. The Amur leopard has a mating season in the spring. Litter includes 1-4 cubs. At the age of three months, they are weaned, while the cubs gain independence at 1.5 years, leaving their mother in order to then lead a solitary life.
social structure
The Amur leopard (pictures with his image are presented in this article) prefers a single night image life. But some males after mating can stay with their females, and also help in raising the cubs. It often happens that several males simultaneously pursue one female, and also fight for the opportunity to mate with her.
Nutrition
The basis of its diet is roe deer, raccoon dogs, hares, small boars, badgers, spotted deer.
Main Threats
The Far Eastern Amur leopard in the period from 1970 to 1983 lost more than 80% of its habitat. The main causes were: fires, timber industry, as well as the transformation of land for agriculture. But not all is lost. At the moment, there are liveable animals woodlands. It is possible to protect territories from the harmful influence of man, in addition, to increase the population.
Lack of loot
It should be noted that in China there are vast areas that are suitable habitat, while the level of food supply here is insufficient to maintain the population at the desired level. The volume of production may increase due to the regulation of the use of forests by the population, as well as the adoption of measures to protect ungulates. The Far Eastern leopard needs to repopulate its original habitat in order to survive.
Illegal trade and poaching
The Amur leopard is constantly hunted illegally because of its spotted and beautiful fur. In 1999, the investigation team conducted an experiment undercover: they were able to recreate the skin of a male and female Amur leopard, after which they sold it for $500 and $1,000.
This experiment demonstrates that there are illegal markets for such products and they are located near animal habitats. Villages and agriculture surround the forests where these animals live. This creates access to forests, and poaching is a more serious problem here than in regions remote from people. This circumstance applies to both leopards and other animals that are exterminated for the sake of money and food.
Conflict with a person
It should be noted that the Amur leopard (the photo of the animal is admired for its beauty) is especially vulnerable, since deer make up part of its diet. Man's contribution to the general decrease in the number of deer, associated with the value of his antlers, prevents the leopard from getting enough food.
Due to the decline in the deer population, leopards often enter reindeer farms in search of food. The owners of these lands often kill animals to protect their investments.
Inbreeding
The Amur leopard is also under the threat of extinction due to its small population, which makes it vulnerable to a variety of disasters, including diseases, Forest fires, changes in mortality and fertility rates, sex ratios, inbreeding depression. It should be noted that in nature observed and family ties, which means that this can lead to various genetic problems, including a decrease in the birth rate.
Similar matings are found in certain populations of large cats, although in small populations they do not allow outbreeding. Studies have shown that in an adult female, the average number of cubs has significantly decreased.
Unfortunately, at the present moment, the situation with the Amur leopard can be considered truly catastrophic - for example, over the past twenty years, its habitat area in our country has almost halved, while the number has decreased several dozen times. Due to this, the Amur leopard is protected today.
She attributed the animal to the first category as the rarest, which is on the verge of extinction, with a very limited range, whose main population is within our country. At the same time, the leopard was included in the Appendix of the First CITES Convention and in the Red Book of the Union for Conservation of Nature.
Panthera pardus orientalis
Order: Predatory (Carnivora)
Family: Feline (Felidae)
Genus: Panthers (Panthera)
Protected:
The number of the entire world population of the Far Eastern leopard is about 40 - 50 individuals, and most of lives on the territory of Russia in the Primorsky Territory - 30 - 40 individuals, and less than 10 individuals in the provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang in China. AT South Korea last meeting with a leopard was noted in 1969.
In the Red Book Russian Federation the Far Eastern leopard belongs to category I, as the rarest subspecies on the verge of extinction with an extremely limited range, the main population of which is located within Russia. Also, the Far Eastern leopard is included in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and in Appendix I of the Convention on international trade types wildlife and endangered flora (CITES). Leopard hunting has been banned since 1956. In Primorye, about half of the range of the Far Eastern leopard falls on the territory of the territory created in 2012. national park"Land of the Leopard"
Where does he live:
Habitat countries - Russia, China.
The Far Eastern leopard is the northernmost subspecies of leopards, its distribution area extends just north of the 45th parallel. Currently, the Far Eastern leopard lives only in the southwest of Primorsky Krai.
A typical habitat for the Far Eastern leopard is coniferous-deciduous forests of the Manchurian type. This representative of the cat family prefers territories with rugged terrain, steep slopes of hills, rock outcrops and watersheds.
The size:
The length of males reaches 136 cm, females - 112 cm, tails, respectively, up to 90 cm and 73 cm, weight up to 53 kg or, possibly, up to 60 kg.
Appearance:
This wonderful beautiful cat has a flexible, slender and at the same time elongated body, rounded head, long tail, slender, very strong legs.
The hairline does not exceed 2.5 cm in summer, and in winter it becomes more lush, thick and long, reaching 5-7 cm. Winter coloration varies from light yellow to rusty reddish and yellowish red with a golden hue. In summer it becomes brighter. Scattered throughout the body, clearly defined solid black rings of spots, or individual spots in the form of rosettes, give the skin of the Far Eastern leopard a special, unique color.
The eyes are yellow, the pupil is vertically oval, becoming round in the dark, the claws are dark chocolate with white ends, very mobile and retractable into a special "sheath" so as not to blunt them when walking.
Behavior and lifestyle:
Leads mainly a twilight lifestyle. It usually goes hunting an hour or two before sunset and hunts the first half of the night, although it sometimes pursues prey during the day, especially on cloudy cold days and in winter. It also appears at the watering hole at dusk.
Nutrition:
The food of the leopard is mainly ungulates: roe deer, young wild boar, spotted deer and red deer calves. In addition, the leopard eats hares, badgers, raccoon dogs, pheasants, hazel grouses and various insects.
Reproduction:
Far Eastern leopards reach sexual maturity at 2.5-3 years, with males a little later than females. The mating season usually begins in the second half of winter. After 3 months, from 1 to 5 cubs appear in the den, which the female arranges in placers of stones, in caves and under overhanging rocks, usually there are 2-3 of them. Kittens are born blind, covered in thick, pretty long hair. The skin is dotted with small dark brown and black spots that do not form rosettes. The weight of a newborn is 500-700 g, the body length is about 15 cm. They begin to see clearly on the 7-9th day. On the 12-15th day, the kittens begin to crawl around the nest, and by two months they leave the den. At this time, the female regurgitates half-digested meat to them, then they begin to eat the prey brought by the mother. The female feeds the kittens alone. Young animals stay with their mother until her next estrus, and, left by the female, do not part with each other until the end of winter. The female may give birth annually, but the mortality rate among the young appears to be very high.
Lifespan:
In captivity they live up to 20 years, in nature 10-15 years.
Habitat:
Dimensions of individual plots the Far Eastern leopard is small - about 5-8 thousand hectares, and the animals themselves are strictly territorial predators: each adult animal has its own area, which does not overlap with areas of individuals of the same sex.
Threats mind:
The main reasons for the decline in the number of the Far Eastern leopard are: poaching, destruction of its range, due to logging, expansion of the network of automobile and railways, as well as frequent forest fires, the reduction of ungulate populations that make up the food base of this species, the genetic depletion of the population due to closely related crosses.
Interesting Facts:
Each leopard has its own unique spotted pattern, thanks to which scientists distinguish between these predators.
Conservation status: Species on the verge of extinction
Listed in the Red Book of Russia and the Red Book
International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Usually people think of leopards as savannahs. Despite this, in the northernmost part of its range, a rare subspecies of leopards lives in the Russian Far East and northern China. Therefore, the subspecies is called the Far Eastern leopard, but it is also known as the Amur leopard or Amur leopard. (Panthera pardus orientalis).
The Amur leopard is listed in the Red Book international union conservation (IUCN) and is classified as a critically endangered subspecies. Due to extensive habitat loss and conflicts with humans, the Amur leopard population is in critical condition. However, the fact that its more famous cousin - - increased its population from less than 40 individuals 60-70 years ago, gives hope for the preservation of the subspecies. It is believed that the Far Eastern leopard can be saved from extinction through the implementation of conservation projects.
Description
The Far Eastern leopard has a number of distinctive features from other representatives. Wool in the summer period reaches a length of 2.5 cm, and in winter it grows up to 7 cm. The color of the coat in winter is light, with shades of reddish-yellow, and in summer it has brighter and more saturated tones. Unlike other subspecies, the Amur has longer legs that allow it to walk on snow. The weight of males varies between 32-48 kg, but there are also larger individuals, weighing about 60 kg. Females weigh between 25-43 kg.
Where does it live?
The Far Eastern leopard lives in temperate wooded areas with a wide range temperature regime and the amount of precipitation. Today, the habitat area of the Far Eastern leopard is about 5,000 km².
How many Amur leopards are left?
The number of the last remaining viable population of the subspecies in the wild is estimated to be 20-25 individuals. The animals are located in a small area of Primorsky Krai (RF), between Vladivostok and the Chinese border. In neighboring China, 7-12 individuals remained. In South Korea, the last record of a Far Eastern leopard dates back to 1969, when it was caught on the slopes of Mount Oda in Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea.
Historical distribution
The distribution of the subspecies has been reduced to a small fraction of its original historical range. Previously, the Far Eastern leopard lived throughout the northeast of Chinese "Manchuria", including the provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang, as well as throughout the Korean Peninsula.
social structure
The Far Eastern leopard prefers a nocturnal and solitary lifestyle. However, as you know, some males can stay with females after mating and even help with raising offspring. It is not uncommon for several males to chase one female and fight for the right to mate with her.
Reproduction and life cycle
Sexual maturity in the Amur leopard occurs at the age of 3 years. Life expectancy in the wild is 10-15 years, and in captivity up to 20 years. mating season in the Amur leopard, it falls in spring and early summer. The litter consists of 1-4 cubs. Weaning from mother's milk occurs at the age of three months, and the cubs gain independence at 1.5-2 years and leave their mother to continue to lead a solitary lifestyle.
diet
The basis of the diet of the Far Eastern leopard is raccoon dogs, roe deer, small wild boars, hares, spotted deer, and badgers.
Main Threats
Between 1970 and 1983, the Far Eastern leopard lost about 80% of its original habitat. The main reasons were: the timber industry, fires and the transformation of land for agriculture. Fortunately, all is not yet lost. To date, there are forest areas suitable for leopard habitat. These areas can be protected from harmful human influence and increase the population in the wild.
Lack of loot
In China, there are vast areas that are suitable habitat, but the level of food supply is insufficient to maintain the population at the required level. The amount of prey may increase due to the settlement of the use by the local population and the adoption of measures to protect ungulates from poachers. To survive, the Far Eastern leopard needs to repopulate its former habitat.
Poaching and illegal trade
The Amur leopard is subject to illegal hunting mainly because of its beautiful and spotted fur. In 1999, an undercover investigation team conducted an experiment: they recreated the skin of a female and male Amur leopard, and then sold it for $500 and $1,000, respectively, in the village of Barabash, not far from the Russian nature reserve Kedrovaya Pad. This experiment shows that there are illegal markets for such products near the habitats of animals. Agriculture and villages are surrounded by forests inhabited by leopards. As a result, access to forests appears, which makes poaching a more serious problem than in regions remote from people. This circumstance applies not only to leopards, but also to other animals that are destroyed by local residents for food and money.
Conflict with a person
Amur leopards are especially vulnerable because deer make up part of their diet. In the Russian Far East, deer depletion, due to the value of the horn in Asian medicine, prevents the leopard from getting enough food. Due to the decline of the deer population in the wild, leopards often wander into reindeer farms in search of food. The owners of these farms often kill leopards in order to protect the reindeer.
Inbreeding
The Far Eastern leopard is also endangered due to its extremely low population in the wild, which makes it vulnerable to various "catastrophes" such as forest fires, diseases, changes in birth and death rates, sex ratios (for example, all cubs born may be male for several years), as well as inbreeding depression. These felines have been observed to be related and it is possible that this could lead to genetic problems, including lower birth rates. Studies have shown that the average number of pups per adult female has dropped from 1.9 in 1973 to 1 in 1991.
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The Far Eastern leopard is also called the Amur, Manchurian or Korean leopard, as well as the Amur leopard.
These large spotted predators have chosen the mountainous taiga regions and woodlands Northeast China, Korea, and the Far East.
The Far Eastern leopard is the rarest subspecies of the cat family. Only 35 of these unique big cats live in the wild today. Some experts claim that the number is even smaller - 20-25 individuals, while others generally argue that the population has completely disappeared in the taiga forests.
How to recognize the Amur leopard
The weight of male Far Eastern leopards varies between 32-48 kilograms, earlier there were also larger representatives of the species weighing up to 60-75 kilograms. Females weigh much less compared to males, their weight reaches 25-43 kilograms.
The average body length of Amur leopards is 105-135 centimeters. At the withers, they reach 65-75 centimeters. Far Eastern leopards have a long tail measuring about 80-90 centimeters.
The predator has thick, soft and long fur. AT summer time the length of the fur is 2.5 centimeters, and in winter the fur becomes much longer - 7.5 centimeters. The fur is shorter on the back than on the belly.
The Amur leopard is a real predator. The main color of the skin is pale yellow, but the chest, belly and tips of the paws are lighter than the rest of the body. The skin is adorned with black spots. On the back and sides, the spots are closely adjacent to each other, and between them there are gaps of a yellowish-red color.
The coloring of Amur leopards is much lighter than that of African and Indian leopards. Distinctive feature Amur leopards have blue-green eyes.
Lifestyle, nutrition and number of Amur leopards
At one time, the Amur leopard had a difficult time in the places where they lived. But, today, these problems are considered so insignificant in comparison with those created by man himself. The main reason for the extermination of the population of these unique predators is poaching.
The Far Eastern leopard is an endangered animal. Far Eastern leopards are hunted not only by the local population, but also by wealthy Russians from Vladivostok. Also, Chinese citizens who cross the border with Russia illegally make their contribution.
Since 2002, 9 Amur leopards have been shot in our country and 2 in China. Massive poaching is curbed by harsh laws. In this matter, the toughest policy is being pursued in China, where the death penalty is threatened for killing a Far Eastern leopard. In our country, the laws are more loyal - poachers receive 2 years in prison and a fine of 500 thousand rubles.
Deforestation also leads to a reduction in the population of the Far Eastern leopard, which is main environment the habitat of this predator. locals they often set fire to the forest, thereby stimulating the growth of fern, which is one of the popular ingredients in Chinese and Far Eastern Russian cuisine. The sale of the fern brings in large incomes, and the population of the unique beast is declining. The number of these animals is frighteningly reduced.
Amur leopards feed mainly on spotted deer, roe deer, and. The current situation leads to big cats forced to change their habitual habitat, because they cannot provide themselves with the necessary amount of food. As a result, Far Eastern leopards often die from starvation and hunters' bullets.
Listen to the voice of the Far Eastern leopard
But if in China and the Far East it is rare to find this predator, then in North Korea the situation is much sadder, where people have already destroyed almost all animals. The Korean leopard has not been seen on these lands for more than 40 years.
Reproduction of the Far Eastern leopard
These inhabitants of the taiga forests prefer a solitary lifestyle. Only during the mating season, males converge with females. The mating season falls, as a rule, in the month of January. Pregnancy in females lasts 3 months. The expectant mother is looking for a den, it can be a cave, a recess in the ground or a crevice between stones.
Babies are born in the spring, there are 2-3 cubs in the litter, they do not have eyesight, but their skin is already spotted. Young leopards do not leave their mother for 2 years. At 3 years old, they reach sexual maturity. In the wild, the life expectancy of Far Eastern leopards is 12-15 years. In captivity, these unique cats live longer - up to 20 years.
Protection and measures to increase the number of Amur leopards
The Amur leopard is a victim of poachers. The prospects for the population in the wild are very sad. Far Eastern leopards live in zoos, where they breed. Today in the zoos of our country, North America and Europe is home to 300 Amur leopards. Good results breeding of these animals have been achieved at the Tallinn Zoo in Estonia.