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Tracks of wild Amur leopard in snow
© naturepl.com / Yuri Shibnev / WWF

1. Amur leopards are probably the rarest big cat in the world

Listed as critically endangered since 1996, in 2022, 125 adult Amur leopards were identified in Russia and 46 in China in 2019. 

Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis). Photo taken at Nordens Ark
© Ola Jennersten / WWF-Sweden

2. But the Amur Leopard population in the wild seems to be stable and increasing

Amur leopards population trends indicate that populations are recovering in both China and Russia, and there’s potential for further expansion. 

Amur leopard with cubs
© Land of the Leopard National park

3. On camera

Camera trap analyses have shown that Amur leopards move between Russia and China, so it’s difficult to determine a total population estimate.

Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis)
© David Lawson / WWF-UK

4. They have spots like fingerprints

Like humans have unique fingerprints, amur leopards have unique spot patterns which means that we can identify them individually. 

Amur leopard portrait
© David Lawson / WWF-UK

5. They own both a summer and winter wardrobe

The hairs of its summer coat are 2.5cm long but in winter they are replaced by 7cm long ones. 

Wild female Amur leopard
© naturepl.com / Vladimir Medvedev / WWF

6. Night cats

Amur leopards are nocturnal and solitary animals which is why we use infrared camera traps which can photograph in the dark when surveying the elusive animals. 

Amur leopard sitting down
© naturepl.com / Lynn M. Stone / WWF

7. They can get chilly in the mountains

Sometimes Amur leopards wrap their tail around themselves to keep warm. 

Amur leopard climbing
© Ola Jennersten / WWF-Sweden

8. Cats that climb

Amur leopards can climb trees - and are so well camouflaged when in trees they sometimes can only be seen by the twitching of their tail

Amur leopard snarling in snow
© naturepl.com / Lynn M. Stone / WWF

9. They’re well adapted when it comes to dinner

The tongue of an Amur leopard has sharp-pointed rasps, called papillae, which are used to scrape the meat off the bones of its prey. 

Amur leopard with cubs
© Land of the National Park

10. Cool cubs

Amur leopards don’t have a specific breeding season, their gestation period last around 12 weeks and the females give birth to a litter of 2-3 cubs. The cubs are born blind and weigh around just half a kilogram. As they’re so vulnerable when they’re first born the mother keeps her cubs hidden for around 6-8 weeks.

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