From the ArcaMax Publishing, Science & Technology Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/technology/s-183807-191548
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (UPI) -- A U.S.-Russian study shows only 25 to 34
Far Eastern, or Amur, leopards -- the world's most endangered cat --
are still alive.
The February-March census was conducted by the World Wildlife Fund,
the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Russian Academy of Science.
Approximately 1,900 square miles of land in the southwest Primorye
region -- close to the border between Russia, China and North Korea --
were transected, and tracks left by the leopards in the snow were
counted. Scientists were able to determine the number of the leopards
by examining the shape, size and patterns.
"The recent census confirmed once again the Amur leopard (Panthera
pardus orientalis) survives on very shaky ground," said Pavel Fomenko,
biodiversity conservation program coordinator for the WWF in Russia.
Fomenko said encroaching civilization, new roads, poaching,
exploitation of forests and climate change all have contributed to the
leopards' plight.
"From my perspective, the leopards' exact number is not the big
question." Fomenko said. "What is really important is that the
predator is on the brink of extinction. And still a unified protected
area with national park status has not been established, which is the
most important thing for the leopards' survival."