Far Eastern leopard population grows to 50 in Russia in 5 years
VLADIVOSTOK. March 15 (Interfax) - The Far Eastern leopard population has grown from 35 to 48-50, according to the environmentalists.
"The minimal number [of the animals] is 43-45 adults and four or five cubs," a representative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Amur branch reported on Friday.
"Fifty is still a critically small number for long-term persistence of population," he said.
Scientists tentatively reported 13 adult male leopards, 15 adult female leopards, 16 juvenile leopards and five cubs.
The environmentalists said at least 70-100 individuals were necessary to keep the species safe.
The WWF representative said the entire Far Eastern leopard habitat was monitored simultaneously, which required many more monitors than in a classic census.
Habitat screening is done once every five years. The first leopard census was done in Russia 40 years ago and the previous one took place in 2007. Back then 27-30 leopards were found.
The Far Eastern leopard is one of the rarest feline species. It populates an area of approximately 5,000 square kilometers on the junction of China, North Korea and Russia. The Far Eastern leopard habitat has halved over the past 50 years, and the population has been under 40-50 individuals for years. The only Russian habitat of the rare cat with tropic-colored thick and long fur is southwestern areas of the Primorsky territory.