[FEL-L] Critically Endangered Amur Leopard Captured

[BigCatSimba at aol.com]

Critically Endangered Amur Leopard Captured
 
 
ScienceDaily (Oct. 23, 2007) — A rare Amur leopard (Panthera pardus 
orientalis), one of only an estimated 30 left in the wild has been captured and 
health-checked by experts from a consortium of conservation organizations, before 
being released. 

Representatives from a group of organizations, including the Russian Academy 
of Sciences Institute of Biology and Soils, the Wildlife Conservation Society 
(WCS) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) captured the female in a 
remote location in south-west Primorye as part of their work to save the 
critically endangered leopard. The animal was tranquilized and an extensive and 
high-tech medical examination undertaken by the veterinary team. 

Alexei Kostyria, biologist from the Institute of Biology and Soils in 
Vladivostok and co-leader of the project, commented, "This capture represents a new 
benchmark in assessing health of wild animals in Russia. We have brought 
together top experts from Russia and around the world and taken state-of-the-art 
equipment deep into the taiga to conduct medical assessments of the Far Eastern 
leopard. We have an unprecedented level of collaboration and remarkable effort 
that is essential if we are to save this critically endangered leopard." 

Kostyria's counterpart, John Goodrich of the Wildlife Conservation Society, 
commented, "Catching this female was a big step forward in our efforts to 
understand the status of this population, and to better define necessary 
conservation actions needed to conserve this population." 

There are estimated to be between 24 and 32 Amur leopards living in the wild, 
making this population the rarest big cat on the planet. The animals are 
found in a corner of the Russian Far East on the Chinese border, in an area where 
their range is restricted by human activity. As the wild population is so 
small, it is likely that inbreeding (breeding between close relatives) is taking 
place and it is important to find out if this is having damaging effects on the 
cats in order to plan conservation action for the future. 


The Wildlife Conservation Society and the Zoological Society of London are 
working with local organizations to initiate a wildlife health monitoring 
program involving leopards and other wildlife in the region. 

Initial findings from the veterinary examination of the leopard include the 
presence of a heart murmur, which could be indicative of inbreeding depression. 
Remarkably given the remote location, the team was able to capture footage of 
the heart, using a portable sonogram device, which has already been sent out 
for review by heart specialists. Further results are expected once laboratory 
analysis has been carried out, which will provide more information about the 
reproductive condition of the leopard as well as any illnesses or parasites 
that she may have been suffering from. 

Amur leopards 

The Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis­), is listed as Critically 
Endangered on the IUCN Red List. There are currently estimated to be between 25 
-- 34 Amur leopards left in the wild, distributed in south-west Primorskii 
Krai, between Vladivostok and the Sino-Russian border. Male leopards can weigh 
up to 50kg, females as little as 35kg, and they are carnivorous, feeding mainly 
on deer. The leopard inhabits mixed forest environments and has long fur to 
help it withstand the freezing weather. 

There are currently approximately 130 Amur leopards held in zoos throughout 
Europe and Russia; all are part of a conservation breeding programme 
coordinated by ZSL and Moscow Zoo. 

Funding 

Funding for the capture and medical assessment work was provided by the 
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Save the Tiger Fund, the Homeland Fund, the 
Darwin Initiative, the Lucie Bergers Foundation, The US Fish and Wildlife 
Service's Rhino-Tiger Fund, AMUR, and Wildlife Vets International. The Darwin 
Initiative is a small grants programme that aims to promote biodiversity 
conservation and sustainable use of resources around the world. The Initiative is 
funded and administered by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural 
Affairs, (Defra). 

Adapted from materials provided by Wildlife Conservation Society. 

_http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071023081613.htm_ 
(http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071023081613.htm) 



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