Given the tiny population, inbreeding is also a problem, and can mean that the remaining leopards are less effective at fighting infections and disease. There is already evidence that Amur leopards are being affected by Canine Distemper Virus, which is an increasing problem for carnivores worldwide. Weighing between 94 and 106 pounds, the Amur leopard is also smaller in comparison to other leopard species. However, the Amur leopard's smaller size is likely due to the species adapting to its present natural habitat as no other leopard species is adapted to cold snowy environments. A single disease outbreak could have devastating consequences for such a small, genetically similar population. The limited genetic variability impairs the population’s ability to adapt to environmental changes or new threats, making their survival more precarious.
Cool cubs
This is a complex project which requires a great deal of preparation and research, as well as cooperation among numerous stakeholders. There are many aspects to consider, BUY XANAX WITHOUT PRESCRITION including whether the released leopards have a suitable habitat and enough prey, as well as whether they are sufficiently well protected from poaching and forest fires. The establishment of protected areas, such as Russia’s Land of the Leopard National Park in 2012, which covers approximately 60% of the leopard’s remaining habitat, provides safe zones.
It’s also vital that the existing wild population is protected from any new and potentially fatal diseases. Found mainly in the Russian Far East but also in North East China, the good news is that, although driven to the brink of extinction, the Amur leopard has recently seen a slight rise in numbers as a result of the hard work of conservationists worldwide. WVI has been working on the veterinary aspects of efforts to save the Amur leopard for well over a decade. This exciting development is the culmination of many years of hard work by Russian and international conservationists.
Top 10 facts about Amur Leopards
Another critical contributor to the protection of Amur leopards has been the scientific community, as conservation strategies implemented by local and national governments in China and Russia have been largely informed by the research and findings of national and international scientists. In China, studies utilising gazetteers, or local records, have provided insights into the ecological, biogeographical, economic and political characteristics of Amur leopard population declines, as well as allowing for a reconstruction of the subspecies’ historical population dynamics. Such information is expected to assist in the creation of effective, well-informed conservation strategies and for long-term population management, as it provides a stronger understanding of the optimal ecological conditions necessary for the Amur leopard’s survival in the wild.
The Amur Leopard Health Database is now part of the much wider Disease Risk Assessment (DRA) for the planned reintroduction of the leopard, which Dr. Lewis completed with WVI’s epidemiologist Dr Alex Tomlinson in 2015. This looks at all the possible threats from disease which could be relevant to the leopards over the coming years, both for the existing wild leopards and for those which will be part of the reintroduction programme. While international and Russian conservation organisations continue to support the remaining leopards, plans to reintroduce Amur leopards into a second location, the Lazovsky National Park in Primorsky province, are now well under way. Following the initial discussion, fifteen Russian and international conservation organisations came together in 2002 to form ALTA – the Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance in order to highlight the plight of both the Amur leopard and Amur tiger and try to save them. Wildlife Vets International and has played a vital role in the group’s conservation efforts for many years.