Why is the Amur Leopard critically endangered and what is being done to promote the conservation of these wild cats? The Amur leopard, or Panthera pardus orientalis, is a leopard whose population was once scattered across northern China. , the Korean Peninsula and the southern regions of the Russian Far East. However, the leopard population is now confined to a small part of southwestern Primorsky Krai, Russia [see Figure 1]. The species now occupies five thousand square kilometers, approximately 80% less than its former range [1]. These wild cats are adapted to the harsh climates in which they reside. They have a thick coat, which can reach seven centimeters long in winter. During the summer months, its coat size decreases to approximately 2.5 centimeters long [3]. It is this coat that distinguishes Amur leopards from other species, as its fur consists of widely spaced rosettes with thick black borders [4] [see Figure 1]. They generally have longer legs than other leopard species; this is a structural adaptation that helps the leopard walk in the snow. [4] Adult males weigh between 32 and 48 kilograms and females weigh between 25 and 43 kilograms. Leopards are solitary animals that prefer to hunt alone rather than hunting in packs. Additionally, they are nocturnal and their main nutrient sources come from badgers, hares, musk deer, rodents, roe deer and deer. [5]The problem: what caused the Amur leopard population to decline so rapidly?Dr. John Lewis, Veterinary Director of Wildlife Vets International and Veterinary Advisor to the European Amur Leopard Captive Breeding Program, said: “The Amur leopard is facing a situation that could be that of a certain number of other big cats in the future, with populations becoming so low. e...... middle of paper ......sease. (20) Although success rates have improved slowly since the first reintroductions, more attention is now being paid to habitat type, food availability, dispersal, and predation risk. Predation has been a major cause of reintroduction failure and although species coexist naturally with predators, temporarily excluding predators from release sites has been found to improve the chances of establishing populations. (20) Also allows testing the natural instincts of predators in captivity, for example letting them hunt for food to give them realism and hone these skills in such an environment, so they are more likely to survive when they come out. (1) change the camera trap method to the half-finished leopard country. get figures on the studbook method and more information on where it takes place and how many leopards they have introduced into the wild