Endangered Amur leopard spotted in NE China

HARBIN - A rare Amur leopard was caught on camera in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang, the provincial forestry department said Wednesday.

One of 15 infrared cameras, installed across Nantianmen forestry farm in Dongning, took six clear photos of the leopard in the early hours of July 29.

The feline research center under the State Forestry Administration confirmed it was a male adult Amur leopard.

There are no records on this leopard in either China or Russia's Amur leopard databases, thus, experts concluded that it is a new individual. This is also the first time an Amur leopard has been spotted in the Nantianmen forestry farm, which means Amur leopards have found Heilongjiang to be a favorable habitat.

As one of the world's most endangered species, the Amur leopard was put under top national protection in 1983.

There are less than 70 Amur leopards in the world, most live in Russia's Far East, the northeastern Chinese provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang and the northern part of the Korean Peninsular.