habitat loss
As our world is ever expanding, the loss of Amur Leopard habitat is inevitable if protection measures are not put into place. Villages and military sites found throughout the Amur-Heilong Forests threaten leopard territory as roads are built and new towns are established (Vladivostok, 2006, p. 7). According to WWF Panda ("Amur Leopard, " n.d.), approximately 80% of Amur Leopard territory has disappeared within the last 13 years due to logging, forest fires, and conversion of land for farming. Causing a forest fire might seem more detrimental than beneficial for humans, however, there are many benefits that can result during the aftermath of a fire. Forest fires are often used to help grass grow, decrease tic populations, increase the number of ferns thus increasing income, and decrease the amount of rotting material in an area (Vladivostok, 2006, p.27). WWF UK ("Amur Leopard," n.d.) has suggested that these forest fires affect 20% of the Amur Habitat each year. Clearly, humans living in/around the Amur Heilong Forests have little concern for the welfare and conservation of Amur Leopards.
hunting/poaching
The most commonly recognized threat to leopard survival is poaching. Amur Leopards are poached for numerous reasons; one of them is that their bones are used in Asian medicinal practices ("Amur Leopard," WWF UK, n.d.). According to WWF ("Amur Leopard," 2014), Russian poachers also hunt these animals with the intent to sell their beautiful fur to Chinese buyers; Amur Leopard hides can sell for between $500 and $1,000. It is debatable, but this price seems rather low considering how few Amur Leopards are still alive in the wild.
While poaching is a valid threat to survival, Amur Leopards are hunted for other reasons as well. One staple of the leopard diet is deer; unfortunately, deer are also a staple for the humans living in the Amur-Heilong Forests. It is common for locals to have deer farms where they raise deer as a source of food/income and unfortunately, these fenced in deer are easy targets for leopards. Farmers may kill Amur Leopards as a reactionary measure when they see a leopard attacking their deer herd, as a preventative measure to prevent future deer killings, or even as a source of food ("Amur Leopard," WWF Panda, n.d.). Since the locals view Amur Leopards as food and/or killers, they are greatly endangering the future of this sub-species' survival. Vladivostok (2006, p.24) asserts that the current population is so scarce, it would only require the effort of 2 to 4 hunters to kill all the Amur Leopards remaining in the wild. This assumption further supports the need for conservation efforts in protection of the beautiful Amur Leopard.
While poaching is a valid threat to survival, Amur Leopards are hunted for other reasons as well. One staple of the leopard diet is deer; unfortunately, deer are also a staple for the humans living in the Amur-Heilong Forests. It is common for locals to have deer farms where they raise deer as a source of food/income and unfortunately, these fenced in deer are easy targets for leopards. Farmers may kill Amur Leopards as a reactionary measure when they see a leopard attacking their deer herd, as a preventative measure to prevent future deer killings, or even as a source of food ("Amur Leopard," WWF Panda, n.d.). Since the locals view Amur Leopards as food and/or killers, they are greatly endangering the future of this sub-species' survival. Vladivostok (2006, p.24) asserts that the current population is so scarce, it would only require the effort of 2 to 4 hunters to kill all the Amur Leopards remaining in the wild. This assumption further supports the need for conservation efforts in protection of the beautiful Amur Leopard.
prey scarcity
Prey scarcity is also a threat to the survival of Amur Leopards because they share their food source with a much larger population of Amur Tigers that also live in the Amur-Heilong Forests. Common prey such as raccoon dogs, sika deer, and wild boar are hunted and/or poached by humans as well ("Amur Leopard," WWF, 2014). Since so many animals are feeding off the same prey species, there needs to be a focus on increasing the number of prey in the region before a leopard population increase can be expected. Vladivostok (2006, p.26) also mentions that prey are scarce during snowstorms which makes finding food especially difficult. Amur Leopards struggle with other mammals, as well as Mother Nature working against their survival therefore, they need our help to repopulate. |
limited gene pool
A final threat to Amur Leopard conservation is the limited number of available mates. The small leopard population has unfortunately caused inbreeding which has numerous risks for future generations. Some of these risks involved with inbreeding are genetic fertility problems, decreases in overall health, and a decrease in the fitness of Amur Leopards ("Amur Leopard," WWF UK, n.d.). The small population also puts the sub-species at a much greater risk of disease and hereditary deviations (Vladivostok, 2006, p.20). All of these potential devastating outcomes have the potential to make Amur Leopard survival in the wild much more difficult and one day, maybe even impossible. Vladivostok (2006, p.20) addressed the idea of relocating other leopard sub-species to the Amur-Heilong Forests to help Amur Leopards repopulate, but research suggests that there aren't any other species that could do this effectively. Thus, the Amur Leopards will have to repopulate themselves with the help of human organizations that protect the current population and work to increase prey populations as well.