Wild Amur Leopard Recovery Program

The Amur leopard is the world's rarest wild cat, with intensive conservation measures having produced encouraging but fragile population recovery.

Key Facts

The Amur leopard population fell to approximately 30 individuals by 2007 before recovery efforts intensified
The current population in the Russian Far East and northeastern China is estimated at around 100 individuals
Land of the Leopard National Park established in 2012 protects core habitat previously fragmented by roads
Camera trap monitoring provides the primary population census for this elusive solitary felid
Prey base recovery through ungulate management is essential to sustaining leopard population growth

Welfare Considerations

Individual Amur leopards in a population of 100 face severe inbreeding depression, reduced immune function, and reproductive challenges associated with extreme genetic bottleneck. Territorial animals require extensive prey-rich habitat that remains under pressure from forest degradation and road construction. Leopards injured by snares or vehicle strikes have almost no chance of survival given the extreme rarity of rehabilitation infrastructure in their range. The welfare of individual animals is inextricably linked to population viability - any leopard death from preventable causes represents a catastrophic impact on both individual welfare and species conservation.

What You Can Do

Support Land of the Leopard National Park through donations to partner conservation organizations
Advocate for international collaboration between Russia and China on transboundary leopard protection
Avoid purchasing products whose supply chains contribute to deforestation in Amur leopard range
Follow camera trap monitoring programs to stay updated on individual Amur leopard welfare and survival