Amur leopard

Status

Classification

Exhibit

Big Cat Falls

The World's Rarest Big Cat

There are fewer than 100 Amur leopards left in the wild and only 180 in captivity.

In the wild, this cat inhabits a small border area between northeastern Russia and China along the Amur-Ussuri region. The Amur river runs through this region.

Big Spots & Big Hops

Can you tell a jaguar, snow leopard and Amur leopard apart? All of them have spots, but an Amur leopard’s spots are widely spaced rosettes with thick borders. Their fur is reddish-yellow in the summer and becomes lighter in the winter to blend in with the snow. Also, this species is built with long legs to help them maneuver through areas with deep snow.

There's a reason you see the mesh at the top of their exhibit. Amur leopards are very good climbers. They can descend headfirst down a tree, leap 10 feet into the air and 20 feet across the ground.

As with most cats, Amur leopards are solitary. In the wild, they hunt and eat alone. They are also primarily nocturnal.