The Amur Leopard

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Biodiversity can be defined as the structural and functional variety of life forms at genetic, population, community and ecosystem levels of all living things (Sutherland 1998). There are estimates of around 8.7 million species in the natural world, 1.2 million species being formally described (Black 2011). However, many species will face a future of extinction before study, unless conservation action is taken.
Wildlife conservation aims to protect endangered flora and fauna species and their habitats, to ensure nature will replenish and thrive in the future. This important practise is vital in determining the future existence of species as well as maintaining and improving ecosystems. Without this practise, many species such as the Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) including habitats would have become extinct years ago.
The main threat of extinction towards flora and fauna are results of habitat loss. Current degradation of biodiversity is driven by human pressures, such as environmental pollution and deforestation (Jeffries 2005). For example, cattle pastures occupy 80% of deforested areas in the Amazon Rainforest, Brazil (WWF.org 2014). In order to conserve ecosystems and their habitats, the importance of wildlife conservation must be emphasised to allow a sustainable future for both humans and wildlife.
2.1 Amur Leopard (Panthera …show more content…

With fewer than 35 in the wild, the Amur leopard is at the point of extinction, showing high reliance on wildlife conservation efforts (Kelly,et.al 2013). Being an endemic species, the Amur leopard is located only in the temperate forests of the far east Russian boarders and north-east China (WWF.org). Wildlife conservation is the solution to ensure the future of the Amur leopard, and reduce human impacts causing rapid decline in population as well as habitat

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