The Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis ) lying on part of its tree structure in its enclosure at Marwell Zoo Hampshire England looking attentive with its head sidelit by sun through the trees. The Amur leopard has a long, thick coat that is a light straw yellow in the winter and darker in the summer. There are large areas of white on the underside of the body. Spots are large, black rosettes and some are solid rings.
This leopard species is critically endangered and is only found in the S.W.region of Primorski Krai province in Russia, where it is a protected species, and E. Manchukua in N.E. China. The leopard is a solitary animal which hunts mainly at night and hides during the day. The Amur leopards (or Far Eastern leopard), are the northern most subspecies. They endure snowy winters as they inhabit an area to the west of Vladivostok.
Hunting for bushmeat, trophies, and animal parts believed to have special properties, depletion of other animals it feeds on and road building have all played their part in driving this beatiful animal to near extinction. A census carried out in February 2000 found 22 to 27 individual Amur leopards left in the wild.
They normally feed on monkeys, deer or antelope but have been known to raid villages for dogs and goats. There is no definite breeding season; the female produces two to four cubs.
The Marwell leopard enclosure also provides a den in which the animals can find shelter and large glass observation windows for visitors.
Date: 09/11/2005
Location: Marwell Zoo, Hampshire