Russia:
Project for the Conservation of the Amur Leopard

With its shiny, long-haired fur and its elegant movements the Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis; photos: WCS/ ISUNR) is one of the most beautiful big cats of the world. Its habitat in Primorsky Krai in the Far East of Russia is the northernmost of all leopard subspecies. Hot summers are followed by cold and snowy winters. With only about 45 individuals left in the wild the Amur Leopard is one the most endangered big mammals at all.

While the economic crisis in Russia has lead to increased poaching, more and more inhabitants of neihgbouring and economically emerging China can afford the bones of the leopard which are used for the production of traditional Chinese medicine. To reduce the biggest threat, i.e. poaching, an anti-poaching brigade has been formed which is financially supported by ZGAP amongst others. The brigade is authorised via a police permission to search houses of poachers and to confiscate illegal weapons and animal products. Another reason for poaching is that farmers want to protect the sika deers they keep from possible attacks. To eliminate this threat factor compensations for killed animals are paid to cooperating farmers who tolerate leopards on their properties.

In February 2002, several partners who had been working together for a couple of years already joined forces to found the Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance (ALTA). With joint activities the construction of a pipeline which would have had devastating impacts on the leopard habitat was prevented. Also public relations play a vital role within the activities of the organisation. Many inhibitants of Vladivostok do not even know that the last Amur Leopards live in their surrounding area. Newspaper articles, TV documentaries, banners and plays familiarise the inhibitants with the beauty and future potential of their nature. A school programme shall establish environmental protection in schools to create the future generation of nature conservationists.

First evidence has shown that the Amur Leopard is spreading out slowly on Chinese grounds: Footprints found in December 2001 give hope that the Amur Leopard population is increasing. Rangers control the safety of the animals within the designated reserve permanently - thus about 4000 snares of poachers have been removed already. 

More information can be found on the website of the Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance (ALTA).