An Amur leopard family was caught on camera in a natural reserve in the northeastern province of Jilin, the provincial forestry department said Thursday.
The infrared cameras photographed a female adult leopard and two leopard cubs on Oct. 2 in Hunchun National Siberian Tiger Nature Reserve.
"We found an Amur leopard pair in the region two years ago," said Lang Jianmin, director of the reserve's scientific research and publicity center. He estimated that the two leopard cubs could have been born in April or May of this year.
The leopard family's presence reveals that the environment in Hunchun is suitable and there is enough food for them, Lang said.
So far, 42 Amur leopards have been spotted in Jilin Province.
The Amur leopard is one of the world's most endangered large felines.
There are fewer than 70 Amur leopards on earth. Most live in Russia's Far East, northeastern China and the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.
