Lincoln Park Zoo

Common name: Amur leopard
Latin Name: Panthera pardus orientalis

Class: Mammals
Order:    Carnivora

Description
Weighing as much as 200 pounds, Amur leopards are covered in dark rosettes.

Range
Straddling the Amur River in southeast Russia, North Korea and China.

Status
Critically endangered. Only a handful exist in the wild. Lincoln Park Zoo participates in the Amur Leopard Species Survival Plan®, a shared conservation effort by zoos throughout the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Habitat
Mountainous woodlands

Niche
Opportunistic hunters, Amur leopards prey upon boar, deer, badgers and smaller mammals like hare. The big cats carry prey into trees to eat and store for later consumption.

Life History
Extremely territorial and solitary except when breeding, Amur leopards mark their territory with urine.

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Special Adaptations

  • Long legs and a thick coat keep the amur leopard warm when prowling through snow.
  • Wide, powerful paws are excellent weapons for felling prey.
  • Amur leopards can lead 20 feet into the air.