Crowns
Amur leopard snarling. Captive animal.
Amur leopard, only 33 are left in the wild, more precious than its weight in 24 karat gold!
The AMUR leopard is rarely found in cold or high-elevation environments and is best known in its more familiar home in the savannas of Africa, where populations are relatively stable. However, in the northernmost part of its range, a rare subspecies of this cat lives in the temperate forests and harsh winters of the Russian Far East. This is the Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis), also known as the Far East leopard, the Manchurian leopard or the Korean leopard. IUCN’s 2000 Red List of Threatened Species classifies the subspecies as Critically Endangered, and the CITES has listed it on Appendix I.
In 1998, the Russian government adopted a strategy for the conservation of the Amur leopard. WWF is supporting anti-poaching activities in the Barsovy wildlife refuge, as well within the whole leopard habitat in the Russian Far East. The organization is also implementing programmes to stop the traffic in Amur leopard parts and to increase the population of prey ungulate (hoofed) species in the leopard’s habitat. WWF staff are also monitoring the leopard population and its habitat.
The Amur leopard has some very distinguishing features. The hairs of its summer pelt are 2.5 cm long but in winter they are replaced by 7 cm long ones. Apart from its long winter coat, the Amur leopard is easily told apart from other leopard subspecies by its widely spaced rosettes with thick borders. It also has longer legs, probably an adaptation for walking through snow. The Amur leopard is habitually nocturnal and solitary. Nimble-footed and strong, it carries and hides unfinished kills so that they are not taken by other predators. Adult males: 32-48 kg, exceptionally large males weigh up to 75 kg. Females: 25-43 kg. Light colour in the winter, more reddish-yellow in the summer.
Major habitat type: Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Range States: Russia, China, probably North Korea
Geographical Location: South of the Far East-Primorskii region (Russian Far East), Tzilin, Heilundzyan Provinces (Northern China).
Ecological Region: Russian Far East Temperate Forests
Interesting Fact: The Amur leopard has been reported to leap more than 6 m horizontally and more than 3 m vertically.
Fewer than 40 left in the wild
Taken w/Nikon D2Xs, Nikkor 300/4 AFS-I
Crowns belongs to the following groups:
Animal Kingdom, Animal Photography, Big Cats, Endangered Species, Exotic Mammals, Nikon DSLR Users Group and ZoophoriaAvailable for sale as Cards, Laminated Prints, Canvas Prints and Posters
Jeff Burns, 11 months ago
awesome shot this is Brilliant
WOW is this great Mundy
Brian Puhl IPA, 11 months ago
I really wonder how many cats you’ve pissed off for shots like these!!! I think I must recommend you get some longer glass to keep your distance :)
Carisma, 11 months ago
This is a GREAT one!!! So close and personal!
Mundy Hackett, 11 months ago
Thanks Jeff and Brian. Oddly enough this cat was anything but pissed off. I was standing next to the keeper who was jingling his keys and eliciting a response. Apparently it is common at zoos for the carnivores to be responsive to the jingling keys of the keeper as a sign they are about to be fed. I tried it later with my own keys to no avail! This fella was no dummy. And I was only using a 300/4 telephoto lens, but the way the exhibit was designed I was shooting through wire mesh from about 7 feet away, it was awesome! I could literally hear the big cats breath, so cool!
Mundy Hackett, 11 months ago
Thank you CarismA!
Andy Gibb, 11 months ago
As ever another stunning inspirational piece…brilliant shot
Kathleen Struckle, 11 months ago
Great capture!!
Sheilz, 11 months ago
Amazing shot. Awesome in fact.
Henk Stolk, 11 months ago
Fantastic professional shot
TrEaSuReDiMaGeS, 11 months ago
Beautifully Captured Mundy, an OUTSTANDING shot…..... But he’s NOT a HAPPY camper lol :-)
Coralie Plozza, 11 months ago
amazing…its obvious I need to get rich and buy a better camera..lol…love the unusual colour of his eyes…stunning
lance leopold, 11 months ago
Awesome animal and capture!!!
GabrielK, 11 months ago
top capture Mundy, very sharp, very scary
AllyL, 11 months ago
how cool is this shot!
Love his eyes!
he could use a toothbrush though ;)
John De Bord P..., 11 months ago
This is amazing, talk about detail!
Al Bourassa, 11 months ago
Fabulous shot!
Jennifer Woodward, 11 months ago
Grrr! This is fab! Great capture, Mundy :-)
Carmen Cilliers, 11 months ago
Wow, you have got this in ONE! He is fearsome, you have captured his essence beautifully.
Crockpot, 11 months ago
NICE. Love the colors – they really pop!
stevenlove, 11 months ago
Looks like he might need a good tooth brushing. :-))
Benjamin Young, 11 months ago
Beautiful shot Mundy…..
Mundy Hackett, 11 months ago
Thank you everyone. This male was very old, I can’t remember but I think he was older than 15 years old, so the wear and discoloration on his teeth was hard earned. This male died this past spring, so he is young again in spirit and chasing things in a better place.
Heather Rivet..., 11 months ago
outstanding
Sara Lamond, 11 months ago
Here kitty kitty – great job on this capture – very fierce!
John Davis, 11 months ago
let me see ya grill, ya, ya, ya grill, great shot
Rany Lutz, 11 months ago
Whoa!!!! Nice kitty…kitty….kitty….
Christophe Testi, 11 months ago
Stunning!
Jen Whyte, 11 months ago
I absolutely love the colour of the eyes … incredible … and those fangs!!!
Walter Colvin, 11 months ago
Great photo Mundy. Very good.
dominiquelandau, 11 months ago
amazing quality!!!!!!!!!
Patrick & Marg..., 11 months ago
Excellent photo, well taken
Denzil, 11 months ago
Wonderful detail – the teeth, the furry tongue, his whiskers, the wrinkled nose – I can almost feel his breath in the photo!
Andy Harris, 11 months ago
stunning capture – so well done…!
Miss Misery, 11 months ago
savage capture
Jeremy Harrington, 11 months ago
absolutely stunning capture.. well done Mundy
Carlo Cesar Ro..., 11 months ago
Picture perfect! Congrats and more power!
Jocelyn Hyers, 11 months ago
Beautiful! The vividness and colours are amazing!
Cheryl Dunning, 11 months ago
wow..look at those teeth!
Sean Farragher, 11 months ago
wow time to back away,,,,lol fantastic
Michael J Armijo, 11 months ago
Whoa…she needs some COLGATE. Those fangs look like an OUCH. Excellent portrait!
Tiffany Dryburgh, 11 months ago
I love his crinkley nose!
ECGardner, 11 months ago
Are you sure that’s a snarl? Maybe it’s just a friendly hello! lol Great timing and perfect capture, Mundy.
Dan Cahill, 11 months ago
Excellent shot
Biswajit Pandey, 11 months ago
Awesome!, superb details.
ApeArt, 11 months ago
amazing!
BrendaKLoveless, 11 months ago
first of this breed I’ve seen…awesome…sure needs to have the teeth cleaned!!
sword, 11 months ago
I have been looking through your amazing portfolio and i am very impressed to say the least .Coming from somone who is known for having no photographic abilty whatsoever,and who gets his wife to remove a tiny spider from the bathroom, It is high praise indeed.Great work
Lucindawind, 11 months ago
wicked ! awesome shot !
Magnetic, 11 months ago
Ouch! I am so glad I am not the keeper! that looks like it will hurt :-/ Brilliant shot !!
Barb Leopold, 9 months ago
fantastic work Mundy, but he needs a clean and polish on those fangs!!! LOL!
Globalphotos, 9 months ago
Wow, amazing capture, wonderful clarity, perfect :)
Quigi, 9 months ago
that’s one angry kitty. great shot!
Cherie Dirksen, 9 months ago
Wonderful shot!
GailD, 9 months ago
Top shot. Just fantastic. Into the favourites.
faizee, 9 months ago
I love this shot !!!
jdmphotography, 9 months ago
no other word really apart from simply awesome !! (-:
Forest Friends..., 8 months ago
awesome! such sharp detail!
Lam Tran, 8 months ago
Fantastic close up shot!
AngelPhotozzz, 8 months ago
Wow georgous cat and he sure has attitude fantastic work!
Shannon Plummer, 8 months ago
So sad he’s passed away but you’ve captured him wonderfully so his memory lives on!
WOLF, 8 months ago
great image good looking cat
Kenny Gulley Jr., 8 months ago
wow
pinkyjain, 8 months ago
So stunning & spectacular
coppertrees, 8 months ago
splendid photography, sad to know they are almost gone
Siamesecat, 8 months ago
Good on this Leopar5d for Snarling..
I would do the same if there was just as many of my idiot species left on earth, lol…
Love the Big cats, and you do it justice Mandy…
Jen Whyte, 8 months ago
Wow! SENSATIONAL!
tomg, 8 months ago
Fab shot, wonderful cropping …
photos40, 8 months ago
You are so ….THE MASTER.!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wonderfully captured image.
BuddyH, 8 months ago
fantastic!
Lam Tran, 8 months ago
Beautiful capture!
sasha, 7 months ago
Fierce capture
Sheila Smith, 7 months ago
Wow this guy is awsome!!!!!!!!
Alan Rodmell, 7 months ago
Outstanding shot
Squealia, 4 months ago
Amazing capture of an amzing animal
Hollie Nass, 4 months ago
Love this!! I think I voted 4 it on competico!!
Matsumoto, 4 months ago
Great!!! Me and my cat are now seeking treatment!!!:-)
Robyn Carter, 3 months ago
I seem to picking out all your work from the big cats group – another great shot :)
BarbBarcikKeith, 3 months ago
Wow!! But.. I wonder if he/she is unhappy because there’s a dental appointment looming in the near future..
Really great shot!!!
lance leopold, 3 months ago
Now that’s impact,love it!!!
amarica, 3 months ago
Congratulations Mundy on being featured this week in The Exotic Animals Group. Well done.
jcards, 2 months ago
love the detail, down to the tongue!
Fran0723, about 1 month ago
This is great!
Jan Cartwright, about 1 month ago
Perfection – you’ve immortalized this beautiful creature.
André Gonçalves, about 1 month ago
Congratulations on being featured in Animal group ;) excellent capture!
Paul Hamilton, about 1 month ago
wow-love this – magic work
Evita, about 1 month ago
Wonderful capture!!Congratulations on your feature!! :D
SueAnne, about 1 month ago
OH my goodness… What a face… Such a beautiful capture…
Fran0723, about 1 month ago
Excellent! Amazing capture!
dmarie, about 1 month ago
awww…great capture…beautiful cat…I would love to hug one, but I don’t think my outcome would be great…LOL… :-)
LeanderWiseman, 17 days ago
this is a gorgeous image. i really love the color and detail :D
karenuk1969, 13 days ago
Wow! Impressive shot!!