Vladivostok's Leopard Day festival spotlights the Amur leopard's fragile recovery

Russia’s Leopard Day festival took place on May 3, 2023, at Admiral Fokin Square in Vladivostok. The event aimed to raise awareness about the endangered Amur leopard, a species unique to the Primorye region. Organisers filled the day with performances, activities, and talks on conservation efforts across borders. The festival kicked off with a leopard-themed warm-up, followed by live performances. Artists from the Tiger and Leopard Museum in Hunchun, China, took the main stage, showcasing cross-border cooperation in wildlife protection. Animators dressed as leopards entertained the crowd, while local bakery Vladkhleb offered sweet treats like Medovik cake with ginseng and Medalka cake.

Victor Bardyukov, director of the Land of the Leopard Federal State Institution, explained the festival’s goal: to highlight the plight of the Amur leopard. Maria Okulova, the deputy director, discussed ongoing cross-border projects, including the Land of Big Cats transboundary reserve and the Friendship Leopards initiative. These efforts reflect the leopard’s role as a flagship species, indicating the ecological health of southern Primorye. Ten attendees won prizes, with two securing spots in the LeoRun 2026 trail half-marathon. The event also celebrated the leopard’s recovery—from just 30 to 35 individuals in the early 2000s to around 120 today. Unlike the Amur tiger, which roams widely across the Russian Far East, the Far Eastern leopard survives only in Primorye.

The festival drew attention to the Amur leopard’s fragile recovery and the importance of international cooperation. With growing numbers and ongoing conservation projects, the species remains a symbol of both ecological success and the need for continued protection. Organisers hope the event will inspire further support for wildlife preservation in the region.