North Chinese Leopard

Panthera pardus japonensis

The North Chinese leopard is one of the most endangered leopard subspecies. It is well adapted to the forested and rocky mountain regions of northern China. Its thick, golden-yellow coat with large rosettes provides protection from the cold and excellent camouflage.

As a skilled climber, it uses rocks and trees to approach and ambush prey such as deer, wild boar and smaller mammals. North Chinese leopards are solitary animals that roam large territories and are mainly active at dusk and during the night. They often hide leftover prey in rocky crevices or beneath logs, carefully covering it with leaves or snow to protect it from scavengers.