Amur Leopard pictured in China for the first time

Mickeroo · 15-10-2011 03:26PM #1

Apparently this is the first time one has been photographed in China?

It was taken in the north east province of Jilin. These guys are only barely hanging on in the wild now with only a handful left, what do you guys think? Is there much hope for them?

Heres the full article: http://en.radio86.com/news/amur-leopard-pictured-china-first-time

steddyeddy · 15-10-2011 03:41PM

Mickeroo wrote: »

Apparently this is the first time one has been photographed in China?

It was taken in the north east province of Jilin. These guys are only barely hanging on in the wild now with only a handful left, what do you guys think? Is there much hope for them?

Heres the full article: http://en.radio86.com/news/amur-leopard-pictured-china-first-time

I think things are improving for them mick but it very much depends on what country they enter. Some countries conservation efforts have been better than others! For example China hasnt given a huge political commitment towards preserving certain species (expect Pandas but then again they do charge zoos a lot of money for receiving a panda). People unfortunately and they sometimes are killed in forest fires but I would be more concerned with probable inbreeding as a result of their low numbers.

Mickeroo · 15-10-2011 06:51PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

I think things are improving for them mick but it very much depends on what country they enter. Some countries conservation efforts have been better than others! For example China hasnt given a huge political commitment towards preserving certain species (expect Pandas but then again they do charge zoos a lot of money for receiving a panda). People unfortunately and they sometimes are killed in forest fires but I would be more concerned with probable inbreeding as a result of their low numbers.

It seems the researchers who took the photo are now working on getting the area protected according to the article. Fingers crossed it happens.

A possible solution to the small gene pool could be releasing some artificially grown leopards from stem cells into the wild, it may seem like a cop out in some ways, but now would the time to do it when a wild population still exists imo.

Adam Khor · 16-10-2011 06:46PM

I remember some time ago they said Amur leopards were being killed by Siberian tigers... that's a crappy situation, having a critically endangered species killed by another critically endangered species!

(Ok, ok, subspecies, but u get my point)

Mickeroo · 16-10-2011 11:16PM

Adam Khor wrote: »

I remember some time ago they said Amur leopards were being killed by Siberian tigers... that's a crappy situation, having a critically endangered species killed by another critically endangered species!

(Ok, ok, subspecies, but u get my point)

That sounds odd, I presume it was over prey, surely the tigers weren't actively hunting the leopards?

archer22 · 16-10-2011 11:46PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

I think things are improving for them mick but it very much depends on what country they enter. Some countries conservation efforts have been better than others! For example China hasnt given a huge political commitment towards preserving certain species (expect Pandas but then again they do charge zoos a lot of money for receiving a panda). People unfortunately and they sometimes are killed in forest fires but I would be more concerned with probable inbreeding as a result of their low numbers.

China is getting pretty serious about conservation now.I remember I think last year a guy who shot a Tiger got something around 12 years.Although that was probably light by their standards,but still it will make others think twice.

Adam Khor · 17-10-2011 01:13AM

Mickeroo wrote: »

That sounds odd, I presume it was over prey, surely the tigers weren't actively hunting the leopards?

It's not odd, really; tigers are well known to kill other predators even if they don´t always eat them. Leopards, dholes, bears and wolves are all known to be hunted by tigers; in Siberia, actually, the presence of tigers determines the abundance of wolves. When tigers went almost extinct, wolves were numerous. When tigers were protected and their numbers increased, wolves dissappeared from many places or became very scarce. There was a study about this; tigers did kill a few wolves, and the other wolves soon started to avoid tiger territory completely.

Baron de Robeck · 27-10-2011 02:20PM

Over in Africa a significant number of Cheetah are killed by Lions which is something I didn't realise until quite recent times.

Adam Khor · 27-10-2011 05:42PM

Baron de Robeck wrote: »

Over in Africa a significant number of Cheetah are killed by Lions which is something I didn't realise until quite recent times.

Not only cheetahs; lions also kill many African wild dogs. In some places where the dogs are almost exterminated by humans, it is often lions who finish the job.

And leopards themselves are very prone to killing other predators, including cheetahs and particularly jackals.
Also, I've heard that in Spain, lynxes are relentless fox and mustelid killers as well.

Amur Leopard pictured in China for the first time

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