The Far Eastern leopard is a majestic taiga cat. Leopard - an animal of the Red Book: description, pictures and photos, video about leopards Far Eastern leopard brief description for schoolchildren 2

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- The rarest large cat on the planet. This is the northernmost subspecies of leopard and the only one that has learned to live and hunt in the snow. This is the most peaceful subspecies of leopard and the only one that has signed a non-aggression pact with humans. But, unfortunately, this pact turned out to be one-sided. Our leopard never attacks a person, and a person remains a mortal threat to him. According to the results of the last accounting , in 2018 on a specially protected natural area "Land of the Leopard" recorded 91 adult spotted predators and 22 kittens. A hundred years ago, these cats inhabited the entire Korean Peninsula and two provinces of China. Today, the range of the Far Eastern leopard is the south of Primorsky Krai and the northeast of China. For a long time Very few people knew about the existence of this unique animal in Russia, even in Primorye. Most were involved in the conservation of another rare cat, the Amur tiger, while since the 1980s, as a result of extermination, the number of the Far Eastern leopard has become critically low, amounting to only about 30 individuals. Thanks to government assistance and the work of environmental organizations, steps began to be taken to save the rare predator in the early 2000s. An important milestone

was the creation of the Land of the Leopard National Park in 2012. The first results of the work within the project inspire optimism - the number of leopards has begun to grow. The area of ​​its range is expanding, going beyond the territory of Russia. However, for the safety of the population, its size must be at least 150 individuals. Currently, the Far Eastern leopard is still on the verge of extinction. Hunting for the Far Eastern leopard has been prohibited since 1956; the predator is included in the IUCN Red Book, the Red Book of Russia, as well as in a number of other protection documents. The lifespan of leopards in captivity reaches 20 years, in the wild – 10-15 years. There are several reasons for the decrease in the range of the Far Eastern leopard: a reduction in the food supply as a result forests and poaching of ungulates; hunting the predators themselves; destruction of habitats due to tree cutting and forest fires. The leopard's flexible nature has allowed it to learn to live in close proximity to people. And although we give him a lot of trouble, he manages to exist in almost the most populated corner of Primorye, remaining an elusive ghost for the residents.

Despite the fact that leopards are predominantly introverted and would prefer their own to any company, courtship reveals their truly passionate nature. One spotted gentleman can show attention to several ladies at once. Future mom approaches the issue of parenthood with full responsibility, carefully arranging the nursery in scattered stones, caves or under rock overhangs. The leopardess stays in position for only 90 days, and then gives birth to two or three kittens. On the seventh to ninth day, the babies open their eyes, and at two weeks they actively explore the surrounding space, crawling around the nest. Tireless researchers give mom a lot of trouble in their quest to quickly understand the world. After a year, the adults leave their mother.

The Far Eastern leopard is significantly inferior in physical indicators to its brother, the Amur tiger. However, do not think that its lower weight and size make it a worse hunter. On the contrary, unlike the tiger, the spotted athlete is an excellent climber. He prefers to live on hills, mountain ridges, and hilltops. Such skills allow the leopard to avoid dangerous encounters with a tiger and stalk prey from afar. Conquerors of rocky slopes have keen eyesight. The Far Eastern leopard can spot potential prey from a distance of one and a half kilometers!

This is a swift and silent hunter with amazing hearing. This predator usually goes hunting an hour or two before sunset and hunts for the first half of the night, although sometimes it pursues prey during the day, especially on cloudy, cold days and in winter. The leopard feeds mainly on ungulates - sika deer and roe deer. One spotted roe deer or deer is enough for the Far Eastern leopard to live for 10 days. It is important that the rulers of the taiga lands are very careful owners. They never undermine the number of ungulates on their territory and kill only as many as they can eat. Leopards are excellent runners and swimmers. However, when hunting, they prefer to rely on their excellent camouflage and tracking skills.

The leopard is not a sedentary animal. He constantly walks around the territory. Each leopard has its own habitat. They regularly walk around the perimeter and also visit certain places to leave their marks. The color of a leopard's skin depends on the time of year. In summer, the fur color acquires a brighter and richer shade, which at the same time perfectly camouflages the leopard. From the very birth of a leopard, spots on its skin, the so-called rosettes, form their own unique pattern, characteristic only of this animal. This pattern does not change throughout life, like human fingerprints. It is by these spots that scientists distinguish one individual from another. Its powerful neck allows this cat to drag and lift prey weighing twice its own weight, and with the help of its long tail it can jump from a standing position to a height of up to 5 meters.

If the Far Eastern leopard sees people in the taiga, it skillfully hides from them. The study of the Far Eastern leopard is carried out only by non-contact methods - using camera traps and tracking tracks in the snow. Trapping of these rare cats is prohibited. Each leopard recorded by a camera trap is assigned an identification number, for example Leo 5F. In addition, leopards are given names. In the “Land of the Leopard” live such predators as Grace, Cleopatra, Lord and others.

Why is it important to preserve the Far Eastern leopard?

The Far Eastern leopard is an indicator of the state of the ecosystem. These cats live in unique nature southwest of Primorsky Krai, where the taiga meets the tropics. Local forests boast a wealth of flora and fauna. An ecosystem is a single, harmoniously operating mechanism. The loss of any seemingly insignificant link entails the most serious changes in the entire system. Therefore, preserving as many animal species as possible is important task. Each species is unique and necessary for nature and man. If endangered species are not saved, the balance in the natural environment will be disrupted. The healthy functioning of the entire ecosystem depends on the state of the spotted cat population, because it is predators who regulate the number of animals lower in the chain. For example, herbivores reproduce quite quickly and, in the absence of predators, can dramatically increase the population and create a huge load on vegetation, which will not be able to recover on its own. This will lead to a global food shortage and the extinction of all animals. And if the Far Eastern leopard feels comfortable and the population grows, the whole nature is healthy.

In years when the snow cover is high, roe deer and sika deer – animals that form the basis of the Far Eastern leopard’s diet – leave their habitats en masse. At such moments, people come to the aid of a predator in difficulty - the staff of the national park organize feeding stations for the ungulates so that they do not starve and do not allow the predators to starve.

Leopardesses prefer tiny caves with a reliable security system to spacious apartments: the entrance to their home is so narrow that only the owner can enter it. This factor is especially important during the period of birth of spotted babies. The best areas for living from a leopard's point of view are hills with rocky slopes and areas with rugged terrain. At the same time, Far Eastern leopards, like Amur tigers, are similar to domestic cats, and they, in turn, are like us - we all love to lie in a cozy place with beautiful views.

The hunting of the Far Eastern leopard is of particular interest to researchers. Conventionally, this process can be divided into four stages: searching for a victim, hiding, throwing and fighting. Despite its habit of constant movement, the leopard is not susceptible to current sporting trends and is not inclined to run a marathon again. Therefore, he does not chase prey for a long time.

But a skilled spotted tracker can sneak up to a prey at a distance of up to five meters, and then overtake it in several jumps and crush it. Silently approaching an unsuspecting prey is called stealth: on bent paws, a cautious predator half-crawls its way to potential prey, using natural shelters. Moreover, in winter, from its tracks in the snow, you can trace the whole picture of the hunt: it is noticeable how the steps become smaller, how the leopard, tense before the throw, gathered into an elastic spring, crawls with its belly through the snow, as close to the ground as possible.

The rugged terrain of the territory trained the leopard to become a true strategist and master of tactical actions. While the future meal should not guess its sad fate, its owner cannot lose sight of the goal. That is, it is necessary to simultaneously remain invisible and have good review. Therefore, the genius of natural camouflage bypasses its target in such a way that the wind blows in the opposite direction from it and the victim cannot sense the approaching danger. However, luck plays a significant role in good hunting. Often, even a predator armed with skills, abilities and innate instincts has to work hard to provide itself with a worthwhile feast.

The Far Eastern leopard, also known as the Amur, East Siberian, Manchurian leopard or leopard, is a fairly large mammal belonging to the cat family and the class of predators.

Today, the animal is on the verge of extinction and has an extremely limited habitat, and most of it is located in the Russian Federation.

Description

This animal is the rarest subspecies of the panther family. In Latin its name sounds like Panthera pardus orientalis- this is exactly what the beast is called in international identification guides.

The animal is quite large in size (body up to 136 cm in length and weight up to 50 kg) and leads a secretive, twilight lifestyle. Every year, the habitat of this magnificent predator is reduced, which is associated with the expansion of human possessions: the construction of highways, logging and hunting for potential food for the animal.

Since the 20th century, the animal has been protected by the World Conservation Fund and is included in the International and Russian Red Book.

Considering the love of wealthy citizens for exotic pets, this mammal is included in the list I CITES, which makes it possible to prevent its capture from its habitat and the keeping of this representative of the fauna in private nurseries.

Far Eastern leopards are predators that lead a nocturnal or crepuscular lifestyle. He is not picky about food, and his diet includes almost all representatives of the fauna of Southern Primorye. The exception is large predators, which compete with the leopard on hunting grounds. However, these animals do not pose a significant threat to the life of this species, since cases of interspecific fights are the exception rather than the rule.

Less than 50 years ago, the leopard was found in the southern regions of the Usuri region, Northeast China and the Korean Peninsula. But due to active human settlement and deforestation, the population of this predator decreased significantly and the habitat was divided into 3 isolated areas - 3 populations kind.

Today the situation has only worsened, since these impressive predators can only be found in an isolated area of ​​10 - 15 thousand km2, located on the border Russian Federation, China and North Korea. In Russia, wild animals are the most common, and the number of individuals is 40–50 animals. This highest indicator, because 8–11 animals are believed to live in China.

This information is often subject to doubt, since there is a high probability that these felines simply wandered into the lands of the People's Republic of China from Russian Primorye in search of prey. Wild cats have not been recorded on the Korean Peninsula for a long time. Although in the 20th century it was claimed that about 40 individuals of this species successfully live within the reservation located near Paektusan.

However, research by zoologists conducted in the 90s of the last century could not prove this statement, since no reliable traces of this animal were found.

This representative of the cat family is rightfully one of the most beautiful inhabitants of our planet. After all, this animal is the owner of luxurious fur, with an incredible pattern. The beast has a slender, flexible silhouette, which is complemented by long tail. The body of the animal is slightly elongated and complemented by a rounded head. The leopard is silent, which is due to the presence of slender and powerful paws.

The sizes of males and females have some differences. Thus, representatives of the stronger sex are larger: the body length is up to 136 cm, and the tail is up to 90 cm. Females are slightly smaller. Their body length is up to 112 cm, and their tail is up to 73 cm. The weight of the Far Eastern leopard is controversial issue. According to various sources, their weight can be up to 53 – 60 kg.

This parameter is determined by the tracks found, the depth and size of which indicate the estimated parameters of the animal that passed. The height of the animal at the withers is 64 - 78 cm. The length of the hind foot reaches 24 - 27 cm. The fur of the animals is striking in its beauty. In a physically healthy representative of this species, it is smooth and shiny. IN summer period, length coat up to 2.5 cm.

With the onset of cold weather, the Far Eastern leopard warms itself. The thickness of its fur increases, and the length of the coat is already 5–7 cm. Sexual dimorphism is manifested only in the size of individuals, while the coloring of representatives of this species does not differ between males and females.

The color of the animal may vary. In the cold season, shades from pale yellow to rusty tones with splashes of gold predominate. With warming, the color becomes brighter and more saturated. Against this background, black rings or spots are visualized.

Far Eastern leopards have impressive yellow eyes with pupils oval shape, located vertically. With the onset of night, a standard reaction is observed, accompanied by dilation of the pupils. This is due to the need to perceive less concentrated light sources and see in the dark. The animal's claws are light in color, reminiscent of wax, with whitish tips.

These murder weapons are impressive in size: up to 55 mm. However, it shows them only when necessary; at rest, the claws are hidden between the pads on the paws. This ensures silent movement and keeps the beast's weapon sharp.

This feline is not comfortable in every landscape. The first factor that matters is privacy, absence of road noise and almost complete exclusion of humans. Also, a wild predator is demanding in terms of having a sufficient amount of food. Therefore, the minimum population of roe deer in his domain should be at least 10 - 11 individuals per 1000 m2.

This representative of the felines prefers mixed forests of the Manchurian type. These are predominantly coniferous and broad-leaved trees growing in rugged terrain. Also, wild animals prefer areas with rocky outcrops, slopes, various reservoirs, rivers - places where they can hide and easily hide from threats.

This representative of the feline is a predator leading a solitary lifestyle. One adult individual has hunting grounds of 239–509 km2. Usually such massive possessions belong to males, while females need much smaller possessions - up to 128 km2. A wild animal can coexist with representatives of the opposite sex, rigidly protecting the center of its territory from brothers of the same sex.

This representative of the feline defends its possessions only from seizure attempts. So, a male can attack another male if he tried to mark his territory. Young representatives of the same sex are allowed to cross the domain of the dominant male and even hunt them.

Scientists note the presence hunting trails, which are used by several leopards at once. He leads the twilight or night look life, leaving their shelter approximately 2 hours before sunset and returning to it by the middle of the night. But several cases of leopard hunting during the day have been recorded. This is the exception rather than the rule. Animals usually form dens on a permanent basis. They do not leave their shelters throughout their lives or several years.

Nutrition

Leopards are not too picky when it comes to food, because the population of potential prey is rapidly decreasing, so the animal does not disdain small prey. The basis of the predator’s diet consists of the following fauna:

1. Roe deer.
2. Noble deer.
3. Seals.
4. or piglets.
5. Red deer calves.

In the absence of the main objects of hunting, the animal easily switches to badgers, hares, raccoon dogs, pheasants and hazel grouse. Scientists have also recorded cases of leopard attacks on small moose calves, bear cubs or wounded bears. They do not disdain carrion. After all, an adult’s hunger strike can last no more than 14 days. Plants are also included in the animal's diet.

This information was obtained by examining feces in which traces of flora representatives were found. Typically, an animal eats grass to cleanse the gastrointestinal tract, and not as a necessary addition to the diet.

The achievement of sexual maturity in this representative of the feline occurs at 24 - 36 months - not earlier. And females have the opportunity to conceive only once every 3 years, which is extremely low for representatives of the animal world.

Attention!

The Far Eastern leopard is on the verge of extinction due to extremely slow reproduction, because pregnancy occurs only in 80% of cases, and the number of cubs raised by a female usually consists of 1 - 2 kittens. For comparison, other felines usually have 3–6 kittens. In addition, the number of sexually mature individuals ready for reproduction is extremely small.

These wild animals are polygamous. Far Eastern leopards form pairs only for the mating period, which coincides with the females' estrus: late autumn - early winter. It is during the rutting period that it is easier to find animals, since males actively make themselves known with loud roars and roars, which often leads to fights over the right to possess a representative of the opposite sex.

Spotted cats for mating games and January chooses mating. Males prefer females with an already mature litter, the kittens of which are ready to start independent life. Therefore, matings occur after the expulsion of the previous offspring or directly in front of them. After mating is completed, the female sets up a den. To do this, the animal chooses rock crevices and caves.

The female's pregnancy lasts on average 90–105 days, after which kittens are born. Normally, a litter consists of 1 – 4 kittens. However, the percentage of early mortality is high, so by the time the female leaves the den (2–3 months after birth), she has 1–2 cubs left.

A formidable predator is born weighing only 400 - 600 g. Kittens are initially blind and begin to see only 7–9 days after birth. From 12 to 15 days they actively crawl, and from 35 days they walk. The lactation period for the female is 3–6 months, after which the kittens are switched to meat. Starting from 2 to 3 months after birth, the mother regurgitates semi-digested food to make it easier for the babies to eat it.

But then the young leopard is switched to raw meat. At 8 months, learning the basics of hunting and searching for prey begins. By 10–11 months, kittens are ready for independent hunting trips. Kittens usually stay with their mother until they are 13–14 months old, after which they begin an independent, solitary life.

Leopard is included in the total biological classification. This type is on the verge of extinction, therefore, in addition to standardizing it according to certain characteristics, scientists regularly monitor the dynamics of increase or decrease in the animal’s population.

The place of the Far Eastern leopard in the general taxonomy looks like this:

1. Eukaryote.
2. Animal.
3. Chordata.
4. Mammal.
5. Predator.
6. Feline.
7. Panther.
8. Leopard.
9. Far Eastern leopard.

Scientists also systematized observations of the dynamics of the animal population. Thus, from 2007 to 2013, an increase in the number of predator individuals was recorded from 33 – 36 to 34 – 50. Which is already a success. However, the positive dynamics do not mean that the threat of extinction has disappeared.

Meaning

Predators are forest orderlies. After all, the animal not only hunts, but also helps eliminate carrion from the landscape, which helps reduce the spread various diseases and dangerous infections among forest inhabitants.

Status of this animal: on the verge of extinction. Therefore, people are doing everything possible to preserve its population. After all, each representative of the fauna plays its role. Thus, the wild cat regulates the population of herbivores, which contributes to the development forest areas. Indeed, in the absence of predators, roe deer and deer would easily destroy all the plantings, moving on to gardens and fields of national importance. Which would lead to food shortages.

Enemies

wild animals are tolerant of competing predators. However, encounters with some animals may result in a fight. Among the potentially dangerous animals it is worth highlighting:

• Domestic dogs.
• Wolves.
• Tigers.

It is domestic dogs that pose the greatest danger to this predator. After all, the spotted animal most often becomes a victim of their attacks. Meetings with a hungry pack of wolves can also end sadly. Fights with tigers and bears are extremely rare.

The leopard is listed in the International and Russian Red Book. It is classified in the first category, which indicates the extreme vulnerability of the species and its extinction. To protect and restore the animal population, international and Russian programs. Scientists and the government have strictly prohibited the hunting of this animal, as well as its capture or sale to private nurseries.

The territory where the spotted beauty lives is protected by law, therefore any agricultural activity, like deforestation, is strictly prohibited there. Due to the spread of poaching, the government has tightened the punishment for 1 killed Far Eastern leopard. So, if the culprit is a single hunter, he faces a fine and up to 3 years in prison.

If a group of people hunted, the term of imprisonment increases to 7 years, and the fine increases to 2 million.

1. The wild beast is one of the most secretive animals.
2. To monitor it, scientists use hidden cameras that turn on when motion sensors are triggered.
3. This is due to the fact that the animal usually notices people located in a hidden position and simply bypasses them.
4. An additional factor for research is animal tracks. From these, scientists make casts, which are studied in detail in the laboratory.
5. Based on their depth and size, zoologists can calculate the approximate size, weight and age of an individual.
6. One more interesting fact is the originality of the drawing.
7. Each wild animal has an individual location and number of spots.
8. There are no two identical individuals in the world.
9. It is by drawing that scientists distinguish animals whose images were obtained from hidden cameras.

He is the most intelligent sea inhabitants. They know how to talk to each other, hunt well in groups, and have excellent tactics.

Far Eastern leopard, also called Amur leopard, the rarest cat of the Far Eastern region. The Far Eastern leopard is the rarest animal from the cat family on the entire planet.

Nine dozen individuals - these are the official statistics released by scientists after a scrupulous census of the population of Far Eastern leopards, one of five subspecies of the spectacular cat family.

Unreasonable extermination by humans has brought beautiful predators to the brink of extinction and the inclusion of an entire subspecies in the list of Red Book animals.

Habitat

The Amur leopard is the northernmost representative of the species; its habitat extends far to the north, beyond the 45th parallel. At the beginning of the last century, these animals occupied the Amur and Ussuri regions, and were found on the Korean Peninsula and on a significant part of Chinese lands.

Nowadays, the last representatives of Amur leopards are found in northern regions Russia and the border forests of China (Manchuria).

They are suitable for life deciduous forests, rough terrain with rocky terrain, hills with cliffs suitable for hunting. And definitely a large number water resources, availability of places for watering.

The Far Eastern leopard does not like high snow cover and needs large quantities herbivores for a successful hunt.

According to scientists, the Russian population reaches eight dozen individuals; Chinese Manchuria accounts for only about a dozen animals. So far there are too few of them to hope for the successful preservation of the northern leopard planets.

Appearance, dimensions and weight

Once upon a time, Amur leopards were distinguished by their considerable weight, large males gained up to 75 kilograms. Modern animals are slightly smaller: males weigh no more than 70 kilograms, females maximum 50. The length of the animal reaches 136 centimeters, the tail can grow by 90.

The appearance of northern animals claims to be feline grace, multiplied by power. The slender, elongated body is crowned with a neat round head, the legs are slender and strong, and the tail of the Far Eastern leopard is very elongated.

If you could look into your eyes wild beast, then the vertical oval-shaped pupils, which transform into a circle when switching to night vision, would immediately attract attention.

In the warm season, the Far Eastern leopard sports a short “fur coat” of bright colors; in winter, it “changes clothes” into a thick (but not lush) outfit of muted colors. You can see almost red-haired individuals with a reddish or golden tint.

The outstanding feature of the Far Eastern leopard's skin is the black spots that form ring-shaped patterns or rosettes scattered throughout the animal's body.

The range of spots is unique; in the whole world there are no two leopards with the same patterns on their beautiful skin. At first glance bright color helps the forest hunter to camouflage, blend in with the surrounding world, and hunt more efficiently.

An interesting feature of the species is its sharp chocolate claws with a white “manicure”; the animal can quickly retract them into the pads of its paws so as not to spoil them while walking on rocky terrain.

Behavior and lifestyle

The Far Eastern leopard is a solitary nocturnal hunter, moving silently across its hunting grounds. The marked area of ​​the forest directly depends on the sex of the animal and the burden of the family.

A lone male owns a decent area, much larger than that of the young mother. But as the litter matures, the female expands her boundaries. Moving further and further from the lair.

Young males have to conquer their own pieces of land, sometimes fighting with seasoned fellow tribesmen. The poorest parts of the forest fall to the lot of young people and nursing mothers; game-rich lands are always in the hands of the strongest representatives of the species.

The Amur leopard goes hunting with the last rays of the sun and usually gets dinner before midnight. This beast has two tactics in reserve: sneak up on a potential victim unnoticed or attack it from an ambush. The hunter is always alone, with the exception of mothers with grown-up offspring.

In winter, when the days are short, he can hunt during daylight, following the tracks laid by wild boars so as not to walk along snow drifts. At dusk, leopards descend to rivers and streams to drink.

Occasionally, clashes between leopards and other large predators occur, but the beast has no real enemies. It is extremely rare for the Far Eastern leopard to wander into human settlements; attacks on livestock are recorded once every ten years. Skirmishes with dogs often occur, in most cases this occurs in the hunting grounds of the predator.

Average life expectancy in natural environment- ten years, some individuals live up to fifteen. In captivity, the life of Amur leopards is extended to twenty years.

Nutrition

The favorite food of the Far Eastern predator is sika deer and roe deer grazing in the habitats of the Amur leopard. If the animal does not come across these representatives of artiodactyls, then a possible victim will be a wild boar or a small wapiti.

In difficult times, the predator switches to small animals, then game (hazel grouse, pheasants), hares and badgers appears in its diet. “Chinese” leopards (living on the lands of the People's Republic of China) expand their menu to include local goats called gorals.

In the worst case scenario, a predator can fast for two weeks without harm to health. And here plant foods Far Eastern leopards consume grass and grains exclusively for preventive purposes, thus cleansing the stomach.

Meat is necessarily included in the diet of small kittens; it becomes an additive to mother's milk. The babies receive their first meat in semi-digested form from their mother; later she begins to deliver pieces of her prey to the family.

Reproduction

Babies of this species of leopards appear very rarely, one pregnancy after three years. And unfortunately, there are very few sexually mature females ready to reproduce. The situation is somewhat saved by the tendency of Amur leopards to polygamy; the pair does not form for long.

The mating season falls in November and December; the female, ready for pregnancy, informs the “gentlemen” about her position with frequent marks. But the lady still needs to be won; often her position is achieved by several males, who fill the surrounding area with long, loud cries.

As a result, the female goes to the male who wins the “cat” battle. Priority and increased interest is shown to ladies who already have raised offspring. The female, who has taken the day off, sets up a den in a cozy crevice protected from the winds, and prepares to give birth three months after mating.

The maximum litter of Far Eastern leopards is four blind spotted lumps. Although usually a couple of kittens are born. But, unfortunately, the mortality rate among newborns is too high. The eyes open in nine days, and babies need a month to fully adapt. After another thirty days, they begin to explore the area near the lair.

The third month is the time to learn to hunt and explore maternal lands. Babies are already able to follow their mother for several kilometers. If you have to travel through snow drifts, then the mother makes a path, and the little leopards follow her in single file.

The offspring receive mother's milk up to the age of six months, but from the third month meat is added to their diet. A one-year-old kitten can feed itself and survive in wild environment, but he becomes an adult only by the age of two. From two to three years of age, the Amur leopard can begin to have its own offspring.

Reasons for the decline in numbers

In addition to extremely slow reproduction and population replenishment, the reason for the extinction of the Far Eastern leopard was barbaric human activity.

Forests and territories suitable for hunting grounds for predators. They are rapidly declining under the onslaught of civilization, plus they “help” Forest fires, destroying vegetation and forcing herbivores to migrate.

This also includes highways and railways laid through age-old forests, plowing of land for fields, and uncontrolled cutting down of trees for logging.

Poachers who poison the animals with packs of dogs cause enormous harm to the small population of Amur leopards. Hunters strive to obtain the valuable skin of a beautiful animal, and Chinese healers pay more money for parts of the carcass used in the manufacture of potions.

Sometimes Far Eastern leopards become victims of deer park owners. Predators trying to get food for themselves are shot right at the scene of the “crime.” Very rarely, careless leopards are hit by cars passing along the highways.

Hunting for the Far Eastern leopard and its protection

Hunting for the most beautiful cat planet is strictly prohibited (since the fifties of the last century). The killer of the Amur leopard in China will have to pay own life. In Russia, a caught hunter will be imprisoned for three years, or in a particularly serious case, seven years, and will pay a fine of two million rubles.

The predator was included in the Red Book of the Primorsky Territory back in the sixties, but the population has not yet recovered. Nowadays, he looks at the reader from the pages of the International Red Book.

For more than a century, Far Eastern leopards have been protected on the lands of the specially created Kedrovaya Pad nature reserve. In the 21st century, the Leopardovy nature reserve was added to the legally protected lands, national park"Land of Leopards"

The rescue of Amur leopards is carried out by governmental and non-governmental organizations that develop programs and plans. At the end of the last century, specialists from the World Wildlife Fund joined the noble mission.

The Far Eastern leopard is a beautiful and unique animal that deserves its place on our planet. Is not domestic cat, not a toy, but a predator worthy of respect. And I want them to continue to live, and not become another line in the long list of forever lost representatives of the earth’s fauna.

The main reasons for the extinction of Far Eastern leopards include human development of their original habitats and a sharp reduction in the number of animals suitable for their food.

But one can hope that the actions taken by Russia and China, in the form of creating protected lands and tightening penalties for killing the Amur leopard, will increase the number of animals and remove them from the pages of the Red Book forever.

The Far Eastern leopard is a predatory mammal, one of the subspecies of leopard. Its body length is from 107 to 136 cm. Males reach 50 kg, females weigh about 423 kg. Inhabits mountain coniferous-deciduous and oak forests on Far East, on the borders of Russia, China and North Korea.

Males of this subspecies of leopard are from 107 to 136 cm in length, the tail is 82-90 cm long, the height is from 64 to 78 cm, and the weight is in the range of 30-50 kg. Females tend to be slightly smaller in size.

The body is slender, flexible, muscular, elongated, slightly compressed from the sides. The tail is long. The limbs are short, strong, with powerful and wide front paws. The light claws are strongly curved and sharp, their length can reach 5 cm on the front paws. The head is small, round in shape with a convex forehead, small ears, rounded, set wide. The eyes are small with a round pupil. Vibrissae black and white.

The coat is soft, thick, relatively short, and close-lying. Winter color ranges from light yellow to rich yellowish-red with a golden tint or reddish-yellow. Sides and outer side legs are always lighter. In general, winter fur is paler and duller than summer fur. Black spots are scattered against the general background: solid and in the form of rings. Spots are absent only on the front of the muzzle.

The Far Eastern leopard, as a predator, eats everything it catches: from small rodents to large deer and even bears. Its diet is dominated by ungulates (and Siberian roe deer). If there are few of them, then the leopard hunts wild boars and wapiti calves, badgers and raccoon dogs. An adult individual needs one harvested ungulate for two weeks. During periods of lack of food, leopards hunt hares and hazel grouse. In addition, Amur leopards eat grass to clear the gastrointestinal tract of their fur, which they ingest while preening their fur.

Far Eastern leopards hunt most actively at dusk and at the beginning of the night. During the day they go hunting only in winter in cloudy weather. They hunt only alone; females occasionally hunt together with their growing offspring. Hunting consists of two main techniques: sneaking up on prey and waiting for it in ambush. Having crept up to the prey at 5-10 m, the leopard makes a sharp jerk and a series of jumps. A leopard can stay near the carcass of large prey for a week. When a person appears, he prefers to hide and then return to his victim.

The historical habitat of Far Eastern leopards included the southern regions of the Ussuri region, northeast China (Manchuria), and the Korean Peninsula. In the 20th century, the subspecies was distributed in southeast Russia, northeast China and the Korean Peninsula. Due to human development of these territories, the range was divided into three isolated areas and formed three independent populations. Today, the Far Eastern leopard lives in mountainous and forested areas of about 10-15,000 km², located between Russia, China and Korea.

Leopards can live in a variety of landscapes; they usually only avoid populated areas. They can be found in large mountain formations, with ledges, cliffs and outcrops, which alternate with gentle slopes, with oak and cedar forests, with roe deer populations ranging from 10 animals per 1000 hectares, and other inhabited ungulates.

Sexual dimorphism in Far Eastern leopards is not pronounced; sexual differences in males and females are expressed in the smaller size of the latter and the light structure of their skull.

The Far Eastern leopard is a solitary, nocturnal animal. The spatial arrangement of its habitats is not seasonal. Males occupy an area of ​​238-316 km², up to a maximum of 500 km²; females’ areas are usually 4-6 times smaller, 107-128 km². The leopard uses an individual area, permanent paths and shelters for broods for many years in a row. The size of the area is determined by the age and sex of the leopard, the time of year, the terrain and the number of food items on it. It is smallest in females during lactation, up to 10 km². In females with one-year-old offspring it is already 25-40 km², in young individuals 100-250 km². The largest territories are those of sexually mature males.

Leopards' territories sometimes coincide with each other at their boundaries, and several leopards may use the same paths. Young males can roam freely throughout the territories of adult relatives. Leopards rarely conflict with each other, but when it comes to serious clashes, death can occur.

The communication system of Far Eastern leopards includes visual marks, scent marks and sounds. Visual marks are burrs on tree trunks, loosening of soil or snow, trail chains. The smell is left by excrement and urine marks. Leopards often use combined marks, where they mark not the boundaries of their habitat areas around the perimeter, but their central parts.

Leopards reproduce very slowly: females give birth to no more than 1-2 cubs, pregnancy occurs only once every three years, and not all of them.

The Far Eastern leopard is a polygamous animal. Estrus in females begins in late autumn and lasts until the beginning of winter. At this time, fights often occur and loud roars of males are heard, although leopards are usually silent. Males seek contact with females, visit their areas, and often mark trails. Mating occurs in January, after which the females set up dens in caves and crevices.

Pregnancy lasts 90-105 days, in one litter there are 1-4 cubs, the mortality rate among which is very high. They are born blind, with thick, spotted fur. The weight of newborn kittens is 400-600 g. After a week, their eyes open, after two they begin to crawl, at the age of a month they can walk well, and after another month they leave the den. Only the female raises the cubs. At 2-3 months, the babies leave the den and follow their mother, who periodically selects new shelters for them. Milk feeding of offspring lasts from 3 months to six months. Kittens eat meat from 6-8 weeks. From about the same time, they learn to search for prey. Until the age of 13-14 months, young leopards live with the female. Then the brood disintegrates.

Sexual maturity occurs at the age of 2-3 years, in males a little later than in females. The latter have their first offspring at 25-55 months. In captivity, Far Eastern leopards live up to 20 years; in the wild, they live much shorter - 10-15 years.

A variety of wild animals, scavengers and predators, are not dangerous to leopards, and also do not represent food competitors for them. Among domestic animals, dogs pose a danger to them: both hunters and food competitors.

People cause great harm to the population of the Far Eastern leopard, which is associated with poaching, the destruction of ungulates that leopards feed on, and the destruction of their natural habitats.

• Now the Far Eastern leopard is on the verge of extinction. This is the rarest of all leopard subspecies, wildlife there are about 57 individuals in Land of the Leopard National Park and 8-12 in China. The animal is listed in the IUCN Red Book of Russia. Hunting for it is strictly prohibited.
• The presence of spots on the body of the Far Eastern leopard disrupts the visual impression of the contours of its body, so it is invisible or little noticeable against the background of the environment. The main function of this coloration is to camouflage the predator during the hunt. The pattern of spots is unique to each individual, just like fingerprints are unique to humans.

The leopard is a colorful, graceful, incredibly majestic and cunning cat. This is a fast and careful animal. Has a strong, muscular, strong body. Has excellent vision, sees perfectly at different times of the day. The leopard's main weapon: very sharp claws and teeth that feed it. The animal’s body length reaches 80-180 cm, and its weight is 50 kg (female) and 70 kg (male). The main advantage: elegant fur that easily hides the predator, making it invisible to the prey. Today, leopards are listed in the Red Book as an endangered species.

They feed mainly on roe deer, antelope and zebra, although they can also eat rodents, monkeys or birds in times of famine. Leopard is an incredibly skillful fisherman! Leads a solitary lifestyle, peak activity occurs at night.

Of all the cats, the leopard is the best athlete. He is excellent at climbing trees and mountains, and easily overcomes high barriers. The duration of pregnancy is 3 months. On average, three beautiful kittens are born, which are fully cared for by the leopard mother. The lifespan of leopards is 10-11 years.

Leopards are very valuable in the fur market due to their delicate skin. Every hunter dreams of having a leopard trophy. Unfortunately, people very often persecute these predators as dangerous animals, which has led to a significant reduction in their numbers. The leopard is indispensable for nature: it inhibits the proliferation of pests such as monkeys.

Far Eastern leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) - considered the most rare cat in the world. It was previously assumed that leopards form up to 35 subspecies, which differ in color and location of spots. But recently scientists have shown that only 8-9 can be considered sufficiently isolated. All leopard species are under the auspices of International Union Nature Conservation.

Black Panther is not separate species, but just a leopard or jaguar with a dark color. We have not seen black pumas alive, but it is possible that they exist.

The snow leopard or snow leopard lives in the mountains of central Asia.

Film: "The Defiers."