Perhaps the most important player in the efforts to save the remaining population of Amur leopards is the Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance (ALTA). Created specifically to address the needs of these two felines whose only habitat is along the Russia-China border, ALTA is an alliance of Russian and international organisations working together toward a common goal.

What ALTA Does

All of the partners involved in ALTA are focused on initiatives that help manage current Amur leopard populations.

ALTA preserves their habitat, and promote educational programmes to make the public and various governments aware of the problem.

In fact, ALTA is responsible for managing more than half of all conservation projects regarding the leopard and tiger populations in Russia’s Far East.

Their efforts include the following:

Ending Illegal Poaching

Unfortunately, the Amur leopard and Amur tiger are still in great demand from companies that will pay a hefty price for their fur and for parts used in alternative ‘medicines’. Since 1998, ALTA has helped to greatly reduce the number of poachers.

Fire Control

Stopping local villagers who set fires in an attempt to reduce the forest canopy is another important initiative. Residents in the area around the Kedrovava Pad nature reserve highly value ferns for food. They often set fires purposely to allow the ferns to grow, creating grasslands that do not support Amur leopards.

With ALTA’s funding, a firebreak system and fire fighting equipment will help prevent and extinguish forest fires.

Educational Programmes

Aimed at the local villagers who are often at fault for destroying the Amur leopard’s natural habitat, ALTA spends a portion of its time increasing awareness about the need for conservation.

Monitoring of Amur Leopard Population

It is important that researchers know exactly how many Amur leopards are still in existence. Monitoring their movements provides information regarding population trends, area density, and migration patterns. Thus far ALTA has determined that the Russian population of about 30 Amur leopards seems to be relatively stable.

ALTA has also launched the Amur Leopard Breeding Programme which is helping to make a real difference.

Ecological and Biomedical Research

ALTA’s research is focused on learning how the Amur leopard lives now in the wild in preparation for establishing a second population where they might be more protected from human harm.

Researchers will also attempt to increase the survival rate of remaining leopards, examine the interaction of leopards with tigers sharing the same space, and determine if inbreeding due to reduced numbers is negatively affecting the animals’ health.

Conservation of Amur Leopards in China

Amur leopards know no boundaries. Their native habitat extends from eastern Russia and runs shallowly across the border into Northeast China. ALTA supports the Hunchun Tiger Leopard Reserve and strives to increase awareness and education of Chinese residents in the area.

ALTA is an important ally of the Amur leopard and its future survival in the wild.

Find out more about just how endangered Amur Leopards are and a round-up of Amur Leopard Conservation Efforts.