The rarest big cat, the Amur leopard, was caught on a hidden camera displaying playful behavior in Russia’s Far East.
In footage captured last Friday at the Land of the Leopard National Park in Primorsky Krai, the male leopard was seen rolling on the ground, clutching a branch, and rubbing his face against it, reminiscent of a playful kitten.
The footage shows the leopard using the fallen branch as a makeshift scratching post before wandering into the forest. The sound of dry leaves and grass can be heard as the big cat moves.
A spokesperson for the national park commented, “Despite his age, the male leopard is in excellent health and showed a playful spirit, much like a domestic kitten.”
Land of the Leopard National Park, established in 2012, is key in protecting the endangered Amur leopard population.
The park has 400 camera traps experts use to monitor the animals’ health and behavior.
Currently, only around 120 Amur leopards remain in eastern Russia. Known for their agility, these leopards can reach up to 37 miles per hour and leap up to 10 feet in the air.
Read more Wildlife News.
