Researchers do not have any previous records of the new leopard. The footage, obtained thanks to an automatic professional camera, shows a close-up of the Red Book predator. The rare video was produced by the famous photographer Sergei Gorshkov with the assistance of Land of the Leopard professional guides and the support of the autonomous non-profit organisation Far Eastern Leopards.

The film shows a male leopard, about 18 months old. The spotted predator is caught heading towards the trail camera carefully looking around. Approaching the camera, he notices the device and pauses for a few seconds to examine the unfamiliar object with curiosity.

The new leopard has already been assigned a personal identification number, Leo 191M. Every adult Far Eastern leopard in the national park has such a reference number. By using a special programme researchers can later on analyse the unique pattern on the animal’s fur in order to recognise its spots. The national park workers hope that the leopard will in the near future be uniquely name and also have a keeper.