The Amur leopard is a specific subspecies of leopard found only in the Amur river valley in Siberia, Manchuria, and Korea. Because of this, it is sometimes called the Korean or the Manchurian leopard. Due to habitat destruction and poaching (illegal killing for such things as fur trophies), this subspecies is critically endangered, with only about 30 living animals left in the wild, and about 100-150 in zoos. The Folsom Children's Zoo is very lucky to be one of the facilities housing these magnificent cats!

Facts about the Amur Leopard
Leopards are carnivorous, meaning they are meat eaters who will stalk and kill prey. Like many big cats, the Amur leopard is nocturnal (active at night) in the wild. Like tigers but unlike housecats, these leopards are good swimmers. They are also good climbers and may hide captured prey in trees. Like the cheetah and other felines, they can run very fast for short periods of time, sometimes reaching speeds of close to 40mph. They are solitary animals who live alone in the wild upon reaching adulthood (which takes about three years), and they can live to be 20 years old or more.