amur-heilong forests
Due to their small population, Amur Leopards inhabit only a very small sector of the Earth. Currently, they either live in captivity or the Amur-Heilong Forests located along the Amur River ("Amur Leopard," WWF UK, n.d.). This area of Russia, China, and North Korea is home to more species than any other temperate forest in the world ("Amur-Heilong Forests," WWF UK, n.d.). All of the species within this ecosystem depend on one another to survive and preserve balance, thus, conservation of the Amur Leopard is crucial not only for the leopards themselves, but also for the ecosystem in which they live. Characterized by broadleaf and mixed forests among many hills and plateaus, this area has been named a "Priority Region" by WWF because of the diverse ecosystem as well as its risks for future destruction ("Amur Leopard," WWF Panda, n.d.). Cliffs cover the hillsides, which Amur Leopard mothers use as their dens (Vladivostok, 2006, p.4). These cliffs are ideal homes for mother leopards because they provide the isolation and protection necessary to keep the kittens safe. The abundant forests, unfortunately, also attract human settlements, thus the Amur Leopard habitat is home to many human villages and military ranges as well (Vladivostok, 2006, p.6). Because of human "invasion" into leopard territory, it is important that residents of the area try to find a balance between human influence and nature in the Amur-Heilong Forests.
Diet/Prey
Similar to most big cats, the Amur Leopard will eat almost any animal it can track down. Their typical diet consists of sika deer (above), wild boar, roe deer, raccoon dogs (above), and hares (Vladivostok, 2006, p.6). Unfortunately, Amur Leopards have to compete a great deal for their meals because Amur Tigers, more commonly known as Siberian Tigers, also inhabit the Amur-Heilong Forests and consume the same prey ("Amur-Heilong Forests," WWF UK, n.d.). Not only do local species impede on the leopards' hunting, but the harsh weather conditions make finding food an especially challenging task for Amur Leopards as well.