The Far Eastern leopard is a big cat on the verge of extinction

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:48

The Far Eastern leopard is divided into three types: Korean, Amur and Manchurian. Many scientists consider it one of the most beautiful species of leopard. It combines beauty, grace, cunning, strength, flexibility and dexterity. It is sad to realize this, but these beauties are on the verge of extinction. Today, there are no more than 30 individuals in the wild, and about 300 more animals live in zoos in the United States, Russia and Europe.

The Far Eastern leopard lives in China, as well as in the Far East. Due to the fact that this species, just like the black leopard, is on the verge of extinction, hunting for it is prohibited by law. For poaching in Russia, a fine of 500,000 rubles is expected, as well as a prison sentence of 2 years. In China, the death pen alty is used for killing a leopard.

The northern subspecies prefers Manchu-type forests, with watersheds, hills, rocks. Weight is 50 - 70 kg, body length - 110- 140 cm, tail - about 90 cm - this is what the Far Eastern leopard looks like. Photos of these beauties can only be taken in reserves and zoos. In the wild, they are almost never found. In summer, the hairline reaches only 2.5 cm, and in winter, leopards dress in luxurious fur coats, the length of the pile reaches 6 cm.

These cats have excellent eyesight, they can see at a distance of up to 1.5 km. They do not complain about hearing and smell either, so leopards are recognized as one of the most skilled hunters. Predators come out in search of food after dark. The main diet is roe deer and sika deer, for lack of a better one, Manchurian hare, raccoon dog and badger are also hunted. The Far Eastern leopard either attacks from an ambush or quietly sneaks up on the victim. He steps inaudibly, avoiding dry branches. Prefers to walk on rocks, roots, or game tracks.

This feline is no stranger to prolonged hunger strikes. One adult deer or roe deer is quite enough for a leopard for half a month, if it doesn’t work at all, then the predator can last 25 days. The Far Eastern leopard is by nature a loner, only in the mating season he looks for a mate, this period falls on January. After a three-month pregnancy, small spotted kittens appear. The female arranges a lair for them in crevices, caves and other secluded places. Little leopards stay with their mother for up to two years, together they hunt game. Big cats reach sexual maturity at2, 5 – 3 years.

In the past, the main reason for the reduction of Far Eastern leopards was their incompatibility with tigers, but now this problem seems not so serious. Man is primarily to blame for the extinction of this species. Due to massive poaching, there are so few leopards left. Habitat disturbance also played an important role. Logging, forest fires, construction of railways and roads - all this could not but affect the number of Far Eastern predators. In connection with human activities, the number of ungulates has significantly decreased, namely, they are the main food for leopards. All this is slowly but surely leading to the death of these beautiful animals.