Rarest Wild Cat Amur Leopard Defies Extinction as Population Doubles
The world's rarest wild cat seems to be making a return from the brink of extinction as population numbers have gone up in recent years.
According to Discovery News, Amur Leopard numbers now range from 65 to 69, up from 30 in 2007. The increase is being attributed to conservation efforts being made in Russia and China, where the cat is found.
"Despite still being on the brink of extinction, the Amur leopard is showing encouraging signs of gradual recovery, demonstrating that dedicated conservation efforts do pay off. The collaboration between Russia and China to protect vast areas of suitable leopard habitat is the next key step to protect this species," said Carlos Drews, director of WWF´s global species programme.
New census data released last week is based on scientists scouring more than 900,000 acres of leopard habitat to identify individual animals and camera trapping them. Most of the animals are concentrated in the Land of Leopard National Park in Russia which is also home to the threatened Amur tiger.
Scientific American reports that the number began to increase after human activity was banned in primary leopard habitat, allowing unhindered research and conservation of the big cat.
The increase has given scientists enough to voice demands for a China-Russia cross-boundary reserve to facilitate greater genetic diversity and dispersal that augers well for the species' survival.
