With approximately 100 remaining in the wild, the rarest big cat on Earth has the chance to be brought back from the brink of extinction!

The remaining population of Amur Leopards is dwindling and occurs in such a small geographical area, that they are at a significant risk of extinction!
With the continuing threats, one outbreak or natural disaster could spell the end for Amur Leopards.

Amur leopards are found in Far Eastern Russia and North Eastern China. They are an apex predator and love to eat deer and badgers. Of all the leopard subspecies, the Amur leopards has the most beautiful coat with large black rosettes with thick unbroken borders. They have no known predator other than Man, which made their population dwindled in the 1980’s to just 30 individuals and it stayed this way for decades! Thankfully through recent positive human intervention their numbers are growing. But they still desperately need our help due to genetic degeneration associated with inbreeding over several generations.

As part of a major push to reverse the damage done to the dwindling population, specially selected European zoos are working together through coordinated breeding efforts to maintain and increase a healthy population of the Amur Leopard. Captive-bred Amur Leopards will be the founders of future generations who are eligible for reintroduction to the wild.

By introducing a genetically viable population at different locations, this would make the Amur Leopard more resilient to extinction. This is why, along with other conservation initiatives, the reintroduction of captive-bred animals is so important for the survival of the Amur Leopard and could be the key to bringing this species back from the edge.

Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park has been given the opportunity to be an integral part of the reintroduction of this critically endangered species.

This enclosure will be built with one thing in mind – to create the best possible natural environment for which the Amur Leopard can call its home. It will become an integral part of the breeding and ultimately, release program.

All of the money donated will be used for this project.
We will be able to pay for:

• The materials needed to build the enclosure
• The machinery hire needed to develop this site

Anik & Kazimir are the two brothers that came to our wildlife parkfrom Marwell Zoo in Winchester. From a very young age, they have been very playful and responsive to each other, as well as the environment around them. They are very inquisitive and confident animals, with Anik being the more dominant of the pair. They both love to interact with enrichment that their keepers give them, they are often active in the morning and then after being fed will find a comfy position up on a high platform and either survey the area or sleep. 

Luna is 6 years old and arrived at the park on the 31st July 2024 from Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens. She is still getting used to her new surroundings so is quite shy. You can try to spot her in her new home – left section of the old Lion enclousure.

Anik will be moving next to Luna, as soon as his section of the enlosure is completed – and hopefully we can expect some baby Leopards in the near future. Be sure to check our social media for updates!

This project alone won’t save this species. However with the combined effort along side other carefully selected European Zoos participating in this breeding program, Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park is fully committed to playing a part in the preservation of this critically endangered cat. 

Join us on our journey to get the rarest big cat on Earth back to the wild.
The Amur Leopard.
Be part of the story from the beginning.