Amur Leopard
The world's rarest big cat — and quietly recovering
No photo available for Amur Leopard
Population
Around 100 individuals in the wild
Location
Russian Far East and northeastern China
Overview
The Amur leopard is adapted to the cold forests of the Russian Far East — the only leopard in the world that can thrive in a snowy, sub-zero climate. At its lowest point, fewer than 30 individuals remained. Through intensive protection efforts, that number has grown to around 100 — a fragile but real recovery.
Why they're at risk
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Poaching for its distinctive, thick-spotted coat and for use in traditional medicine.
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Prey depletion — deer and wild boar populations have been reduced by overhunting, leaving leopards without enough food.
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Habitat loss from logging, farming, and infrastructure development fragments their range.
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Inbreeding from such a small population reduces genetic diversity and disease resistance.
Reasons for hope
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The wild population has more than tripled since the early 2000s, from under 30 to approximately 100 individuals.
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The Land of the Leopard National Park, established in Russia in 2012, protects the core of their habitat.
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Camera trap networks across the range allow researchers to monitor every individual leopard by name.
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A small but growing population has been documented re-establishing in northeastern China.