The Amur leopard is the rarest big cat on Earth, with fewer than 100 individuals remaining. Intensive conservation has stabilised the population, but continued effort is essential.
Amur leopards face welfare threats from snaring — traps set for other species that catch leopards as bycatch, causing injury and slow death. Prey depletion from human hunting of deer and other ungulates forces leopards into closer proximity with human settlements, increasing conflict risk. The tiny population size means each individual' welfare matters enormously to species survival — the death of any reproductively active animal is a significant conservation setback. Captive individuals serve as a critical genetic reserve; their welfare in managed care must meet the highest standards to maintain their value for potential future reintroduction. Conservation success for this species demonstrates that intensive, well-funded effort can genuinely reverse extinction trajectories.