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Population monitoring (Snow-track counts and camera trapping)

You can read about how we monitor the Amur leopard population here.

 

WCS started Amur leopard monitoring with camera-traps in 2002, after try-outs in 2001 proved successful. (© WCS and ISUNR) The camera-traps are placed on opposite sides of wildlife trails. (© WCS and ISUNR) Camera-trap work proved that leopards prefer to travel along ridges and hill tops, whereas tigers more frequently use wildlife trails in valleys and along rivers. (© WCS and ISUNR) Leopards are curious animals and often Leopard staring mesmerized at a camera-trap. (© WCS and ISUNR) This leopard rubs itself on a spot where biologists sprinkled smelly fish extracts to attract leopards. (© WCS and ISUNR) Leopards have been photographed at any time of the day. However, most photos were made in the early morning and around dusk. The peaks in leopard movements co-incide with peaks in ungulate activity. (© WCS and ISUNR) The cameras make photos at intervals of 30 seconds or more. Sometimes a leopard stays at one spot for several minutes, resulting in a 'portrait' series..... (photo 1) (© WCS and ISUNR) ....and photo 2. (copyright WCS and ISUNR) ....and photo 3. (© WCS and ISUNR) (© WCS and ISUNR) Not only leopards appeared on photos, but many other animals as well, including boar, dogs and sika deer. This photo shows two yellow throated martens, a powerful predator that sometimes kills roe deer. It has an intriguing distribution from Primorsky Krai in Russia to the island of Java in Indonesia. (© WCS and ISUNR) A sika deer caught by a camera-trap. (© WCS and ISUNR) And several photos of Amur tigers were made as well. (© WCS and ISUNR) Amur leopard camera-trap photo (© WCS and ISUNR) Amur leopard in the evening sun. (© WCS and ISUNR) Amur leopard camera-trap photo (© WCS and ISUNR) Amur leopard camera-trap photo (© WCS and ISUNR) Amur leopard camera-trap photo (© WCS and ISUNR) Amur leopard camera-trap photo ( © WCS and ISUNR) Amur leopard camera-trap photo (© WCS and ISUNR)