Ferocious Predator, Fragile Species

A young female Amur leopard photographed at the Omaha Zoo.

In the wild, Amur leopards are the most endangered big cat on the planet, with only an estimated 30 individuals remaining in the Russian Far East. 

Last week, a team of scientists led by the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society captured a wild Amur leopard, and gave it a full health examination before releasing it back into the wild.

Conservationists are working to grow this most fragile big cat population by reducing poaching, habitat loss and loss of prey species.

• Images: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
• One of 34 Remaining Rare Leopards Killed