Seven-year-old Malchik, a male Far Eastern leopard (Leo 32M) initially tracked as part of trail monitoring between 2010 and 2012, inhabits the northern part of Land of the Leopard National Park.

When researchers first spotted him on a trail camera in 2010, they named him Malchik (meaning “boy” in Russian) owing to his young age. The name was made official when Malchik was included in several Far Eastern leopard atlases. The leopard is currently in his prime given the animal’s average lifespan.

Malchik lives up to his playful name, at times posing like a kitten in front of the camera. Once he lay on the grass and started rolling around on his back playfully. The automatic filming lasted for several minutes. At the end, Leo32M, as if recalling how old he was, proudly marked his territory and was off.

Judging by camera images, Malchik walks his territory every day to leave scent marks. Thanks to the measured grace of his movements, the cameras are able to capture really beautiful photos.