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http://www.worldwildlife....09/WWFPresitem14391.html
http://www.worldwildlife....09/WWFPresitem14391.html
Rare Photo of Three Amur Leopards Offers Hope for World's Most Endangered Cat
Three Individuals Represent Almost 10 Percent of Population
For Release: Nov 25, 2009
Lee Poston
[email protected]
(202) 495-4536
[emoji]169[/emoji] Valerii Maleev/WWF-Russia
Washington, November 25, 2009 -- Three Amur leopards photographed during an anti-poaching operation in the Russian Far East offer a little Thanksgiving hope for the world's rarest big cat, World Wildlife Fund said today. Only about 40 critically endangered Amur leopards exist in the wild, so the photograph of three healthy individuals around a kill is good news for the future of the sub-species. View exclusive photos of the rare Amur leopard
As soon as the cats -- a female and two cubs -- were identified, an anti-poaching interagency group tightened security by blocking roads around the location. This quick response was even more critical because of the fresh snowfall on the ground, which makes it easier for poachers to track these rare cats. While at least one Amur leopard cub in a litter usually dies, both of these cubs survived their first six months.
"During this holiday season, the presence of these three leopards is something we can all be thankful for," said Dr. Darron Collins, Director of WWF-US's Amur-Heilong Program. "If we can protect them from poachers and loss of their habitat and recover their prey populations, Amur leopards may yet survive for future generations."
The anti-poaching interagency group was formed in January of this year to better protect the region's Amur leopards. It includes WWF, Russian government agencies and other conservation organizations. To date, the group has conducted 67 operations; instituted four criminal cases; confiscated 12 guns and rifles, filed 18 protocols for administrative infringements; and inspected 33 vehicles. All this is being done with one purpose - to save the Amur leopard from extinction.