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The Amur Leopard //Panthera pardus orientalis// The Amur Leopard was named after the [|Amur River] which runs inbetween the China and Russian borders. The Amur Leopards are mainly located in Korea, Manchuria, and Siberia. Amur leopards are **carnivores**. //At zoos// they will eat what is called a feline diet. A feline diet consists of ground meat that is fortified with vitamins and minerals. //In the wild// a Amur leopard will eat large rodents and deer, some of these include but do not subject to just the following: warthogs, hares, ground birds and small antelope.

Amur Leopards have been considered **critically endangered** since the year 2000. What has caused the decline of what is known to some as the most beautiful feline? Where the Amur Leopards live natively there is too much illegal poaching, there is a loss of their habitat from fires and other natural disasters, and their loss of prey has also taken a toll on their numbers.

Zoos both in and outside of the United States are raising awareness of the Amur Leopard's decline. Also, money is being raised for the Amur leopard's conservation. In zoos an environment is created in which it is safe to breed new offspring. In 2007 there was said to be 290 Amur leopard's in captivity and estimated to be **less than 35** Amur Leopards left in their natural habitat. Organizations that are Amur Leopard conservationists are as follows: The Amur Leopard Conservation, the [|AZA], the [|Tigris Foundation], the [|Phonenix Fund], the [|Zov Taigi], and the [|European Association of Zoos and Aquaria], and the [|International Fund for Animal Welfare.]

The Amur leopard's future isn't as bleak as it is made out to be. The ALTA is just one of the foundations that believes that the Amur Leopards can be saved. There are **[|six reasons]** as to why the Amur leopards will most likely not go extinct: 1.) In field studies there is shown an increased number of population in the wild. 2.) For 30 years the Amur leopard's wild population has remained the same. 3.) The human population is relatively small and stable or possibly declining in the Russian Far East. 4.) A reserve was created in Northeast China for the Amur leopards. 5.) It might be possible to reintroduce some of the captive leopards back into the wild in the south Sikhote Alin. The Amur leopards disappeared here in a period of about 30 years ago, and now the leopard's prey is increasing in these Russian Far East areas. 6.) The ALTA's long term survival program will not only increase the protection of the leopards, their prey and their habitat, but improve their habitat as well.

At the Erie Zoo We are fortunate enough in the city of Erie to have two Amur leopards at our very own [|Erie Zoo.] The Erie Zoo is located on 423 West 38th Street, Erie, PA 16508.

To the left you can see the male Amur leopard at our zoo, Muran. He was born on July 3, 1995. He has exceptional blood lines. He came to the Erie Zoo from the [|Tierpark Zoo] in Berlin, Germany, though he will probably retire next year. He has fathered 10 cubs. 9 of which were with the former female Amur leopard at the Erie Zoo - Kia. One he had with Nastya ("Tya") on May 22, 2003. Tya came from the [|Audubon Zoo.]

[|More pictures can be found here.]