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PROOF: how the most endangered big cat in the world is recovering

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20 May 2016

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Amur leopardess Umka and her two cubs. Picture here and below: Land of Leopard

A total of 16 Amur Leopard cubs have been photographed by camera traps in a national park dedicated to the survival of the rarest big cat on the planet. The species is officially 'critically endangered', but these images show genuine new hope for the species. 

The number of cubs is three times as many as were spotted in 2014, and indicates the success of a Kremlin-driven campaign to save an animal even after its survival seemed forlorn. 

The new cubs are from eight females including three born this year to a leopard named Queen Borte - after the famously fertile first wife of Genghis Khan - by Hollywood action hero Steven Seagal.

Leo Aleksa and kitten


Leo Aleksa and kittens


Kitten of Leo 63F

Leopardess Aleksa and her two cubs. Cub od leopardess Leo 63F. 

Another mother also had three cubs in the Land of the Leopard National Park in Russia's Far East. Experts say all the cubs have a 'healthy appearance'.

In March, Kremlin chief of staff Sergei Ivanov announced there are now 80 Amur leopards in the wild, compared with just 30 a few years ago. Numbers of the leopards were denuded over many decades by hunting and poaching. 

The return of the leopards poses new problems in their native regions, notably a rising number of attacks on livestock. A novel solution has been found with a scheme to compensate farmers who do not shoot leopards and tigers that attack their livestock. 

'One of the largest Russian insurance companies has volunteered to insure the damage caused by leopards and tigers,'  said Ivanov. 'The maximum insurance amounts to up to two million roubles.'

Borte's cub


Leo Borte's kittens


Leo 39F with kitten

Cubs of Seagal's leopardess Queen Borte. Leopardess Leo 38F with her cub. 

Last June, a leopard attacked a two month old calf grazing on a privately-owned farm in Primorye region. On this occasion, Russian deputy premier Yuri Trutnev paid the farmer 70 bags of oats as compensation.

This led to an idea taken up by SOGAZ insurance company of compensation for farmers to protect the rare leopards from revenge attacks by farmers. The insurance scheme is a 'correct' and 'civilised solution', he said.

'We can say that our animals are becoming less exposed to dangers coming from humans. In these conditions, our cats are reproducing very well.'

Comments (4)

Ask Mr Putin to do what ever he can to save those beautiful animals.
L M., USA,CA
26/05/2016 14:58
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Beautiful pictures about beautiful fluffy big cats! In France there is the same problem with wolf and wonderful Boreal lynx returned. So "NOBEL PRIZE" to who find a EFFICIENT FENCE (and not too expansive) to prevent from the predator entering in the field !
Jocelyne, FRANCE
22/05/2016 15:55
12
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Many thanks for the efforts to protect the Amur Leopard and bring the species back from the threat of extinction. The compensation to Farmers who do not kill leopards and Tigers is a wonderful idea. Prime Minister Yuri Trutnev is an amazing man and SOGAZ offer to compensate Farmers is wonderful. Many thanks.
Deborah Williams, Rome, GEORGIA-USA
22/05/2016 05:22
16
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Thank you to everyone involved in taking care of nature. The insurance company program, farmers participation, completion of the ecological tunnel and reduction of poaching are all actions helping to minimize our intrusion as humans into the natural habitat of these magnificent animals. I agree with Yuri Trutnev,"'We can say that our animals are becoming less exposed to dangers coming from humans. In these conditions, our cats are reproducing very well." And, I hope they continue to do so.
Pamela Tetarenko, League City, USA
21/05/2016 02:18
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