Lethal List #1 - Amur Leopard

The Lethal List will be series of blogs on the animals found on the World Wildlife Fund's list of species at risk.

The World Wildlife Fund is one of a few organisations that attempts to keep up-to-date information on species' population numbers in order to determine which need the most conservation help. Their list ranks animals from Least Concerned to Critically Endangered.

The Amur Leopard is a member of the Felidae family and Panthera genus. The Felidae family contains all cat species, and is the most carnivorous of all of the Carnivora orders to which they belong. This is because they rely so heavily on large amounts of protein to function properly.

The Panthera genus includes the species of lion, tiger, jaguar and leopard. They are classified together in part for their unique ability to roar. This ability arises from special laryngeal (throat) structures.

Amur Leopards are adapted to the northern conditions of their habitat. They live in the temperate forest region of northern China and Eastern Russia and are named for the Amur river which runs through the area.

These solitary cats can live up to 15 years and produce litters of 1-4 cubs, which stay with their mothers until they reach two years of age.

Similarly to other big cats, Amur Leopards will hunt a variety of game from deer to hares and pull kills up trees to protect them from other predators.

Currently, Amur Leopards are considered Critically Endangered by the World Wildlife Fund. At their worst, the population in the wild numbered less than 30 individuals. However, thanks to conservation efforts, over the past eight years the population has started to grow and now numbers just above 60 individuals.

Please enjoy this little video of the rare creatures caught on camera in their natural habitat.