Primorye, Russia – With less than 40 remaining in the wild, a new census is under way to check the status of the critically endangered Amur leopard.
Conservationists from WWF, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science will search for snow tracks of the elusive wildcat over an area of 5,000km2 in Russia’s Far East and in parts of China just over the border.
“We hope this census will confirm that there are more leopard numbers than we think there are,” said Dr Yury Darman, Director of WWF-Russia’s Far Eastern office. “We hope we can preserve a sustainable population of more than 50 individuals.”
In the lead-up to the census, researchers have discovered at least four litters of leopards in the region.
“This is the first time in the last five years that we are seeing an increase in the leopard population,” Dr Darman said. “This is a good sign.”
The last survey of the Amur leopard in 2003 counted about 30 individuals.
“The area and quality of the leopard’s habitat has changed for the worse,” said Dr Dmitry Pikunov, with the Russian Academy of Science and coordinator of the 2007 Far Eastern Leopard Census.
“We need to conduct a regular census in order to better understand the situation, determine how many animals are left, how they are distributed, and the number of young,” he said. “With this information we can develop a new conservation strategy.”
WWF is supporting anti-poaching activities and habitat restoration throughout the leopard’s range in the Russian Far East. In addition to monitoring the leopard population and its habitat, WWF is implementing programmes to stop the illegal trade of Amur leopard skins and parts.