A New Analytical Approach to the Study of the Spatial Structure of the Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) Population

Abstract

Based on data from camera traps installed throughout the model territory in southwest Primorye, information was received during an annual cycle on the presence of individually identified Amur leopards in the area of study. Analysis of the data using a combination of different techniques has determined the mutual spatial arrangement and sizes of approximated home ranges for both male and female leopards. The dataset of individually identified animals proves sufficient in describing the social organization of the studied group of Amur leopard using the spatial overlapping of individual home ranges as a characteristic of social relationships. Each individual home range overlaps with several home ranges belonging to both individuals of the opposite and same sex, with the overlapped portion larger in males than in females.