I was going to post on this study that came out a few days ago but was a bit behind. A new census estimates that there are only 25-34 Amur leopards left in the wild. A number well below what scientists feel is necessary to stay off extinction.
Also known as the Far Eastern leopard, the Amur has been painted into a deadly corner by habitat-slashing, conservationists said this week.
Weighing in at about 55 to 130 pounds (25 to 59 kilograms), the large cat once flourished along the Korean Peninsula, in the Russian Far East, and in northeastern China. But habitat fragmentation and the hunting of the leopard and its prey have eviscerated wild populations, conservationists say.
The Amur's long legs and long fur set it apart from other leopards, allowing it to prowl in deep snow and withstand Siberian cold.
The leopard's snow tracks were the basis of the census, which covered some 1,930 square miles (5,000 square kilometers) of Amur territory near Vladivostok
The researchers found at least 4 litters of cubs that left the researchers with some hope for the leopard.
And then the bad news today, where a female Amur leopard was found last Friday, shot and "beaten with a heavy object." She was left for dead, making it seem unlikely that she was killed by poachers for her pelt. This leaves only 6 female Amur leopards left. It sounds like she was not one of the four females with litters of cubs.
It is quite depressing to see the extinction of such an impressive animal happen right before our eyes.
There are only 10, 12 or about 200 Amur Leopards left in the wild, depending on who you cite and I assume on what is considered a "pure" Amur Leopard.
Some background on the Amur Leopard.
Photo used under creative commons license: Nick Lawes
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