#3 - Amur Leopard

The Amur Leopard is one of the rarest big cats in the world and the most endangered leopard subspecies, with only around 100 individuals estimated to remain in the wild. Native to the temperate forests of the Russian Far East and northeastern China, this magnificent cat has thicker, paler fur than other leopards, with large, widely spaced rosettes that provide excellent camouflage in snowy winter conditions.

These solitary predators are incredibly agile and powerful, capable of running at speeds up to 37 miles per hour and leaping over 19 feet horizontally and up to 10 feet vertically. Their diet primarily consists of roe deer, sika deer, and wild boar. Amur Leopards are incredibly elusive, with large home ranges of up to 120 square miles, making them particularly challenging to study and protect.

Conservation efforts have shown promising results in recent years, with populations slowly increasing from a low of around 30 individuals in the 1970s. Key conservation measures include anti-poaching patrols, habitat protection, and international cooperation between Russia and China to create transboundary protected areas. Captive breeding programs also contribute to genetic diversity and potential future reintroductions.