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Endangered Amur leopard spotted in N.E. China
Source:Xinhua Published: 2016/8/24 16:51:11

A rare Amur leopard was caught on camera in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang, the provincial forestry department said Wednesday. 

One of 15 infrared cameras, installed across Nantianmen forestry farm in Dongning, took six clear photos of the leopard in the early hours of July 29. 

The feline research center under the State Forestry Administration confirmed it was a male adult Amur leopard. 

There are no records on this leopard in either China or Russia's Amur leopard databases, thus, experts concluded that it is a new individual. This is also the first time an Amur leopard has been spotted in the Nantianmen forestry farm, which means Amur leopards have found Heilongjiang to be a favorable habitat. 

As one of the world's most endangered species, the Amur leopard was put under top national protection in 1983. 

There are less than 70 Amur leopards in the world, most live in Russia's Far East, the northeastern Chinese provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang and the northern part of the Korean Peninsular.

Endangered Amur leopard found in NE China
Source:Ecns.cn Published: 2016/8/24 18:34:01

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

The image of an Amur leopard, also known as Far Eastern leopard, taken by an infrared camera. The forestry department in Heilongjiang Province said no previous record of the leopard is available in China or Russia. With only about 70 adult Amur leopards in the wild today, it is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. (Photo provided to China News Service) Reply