Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis)

The Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) is among Earth's most critically endangered big cats, with only about 100 individuals surviving in the wild. Native to the snowy forests of Russia's Far East and Northeast China, this rare leopard subspecies faces extinction due to poaching, habitat loss, and climate change threats. Its beautiful thick-spotted fur provides perfect winter camouflage but also makes it a target for illegal wildlife trade. Conservation programs involving anti-poaching patrols and habitat corridors offer hope, but this solitary, elusive predator remains perilously close to vanishing forever. Each remaining Amur leopard represents a crucial genetic legacy worth protecting.