Magnificent Amur leopard does not seem to know whether it is summer-ing or going as its coat is apparently caught out by a rapid spring thaw.
Rare footage from a capture camera in Primorsky Krai, in Russia’s Far East, spotted a moment when the critically endangered big cat’s fur changes colour for summer.
As the leopard stops to mark its territory on its mountainous range it shows that from head to shoulders its coat is already in its summer golden yellow glow.
But the rest of the coat is still in the silver and white camouflage which makes it virtually invisible in the region’s snowy winter landscapes.
The coastal Primorye region is covered almost entirely in forests and is one of the few remaining habitats of the Amur leopard which roams the country’s border with China.
Researchers from the Land of the Leopard organisation captured the footage as part of their monitoring of the elusive big cats.
With only about 100 specimens alive in the wild, these cameras are often the only way scientists can keep track of the survivors.
The experts joked on a statement on 20th May obtained by Newsflash: “Albino Leopard Discovered in ‘Land of the Leopard’!”
They explained: “But it’s not about genetics. This is how these big cats shed their fur.
“Faded coats in some individuals are observed from May to July. This is when these spotted beauties are transitioning from their winter fur to summer fur.”
The leopards’ summer coats are more vivid in pattern and shorter to help keep cool in hotter months.
Agile and powerful hunters Amur leopards can run at up to 37 miles per hour and pounce nearly 20ft.
But despite their adaptability, the species faces threats like habitat loss and human poaching.
Other footage shows some Amur leopards prowling their territory with even more advanced summer coats.
Land of the Leopard said: “They often choose such picturesque spots in the national park to rest.”
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Story By: Simona Kitanovska, Sub-Editor: Simona Kitanovska, Agency: Newsflash
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