In the Asian area you will find the Amur leopard which is threatened with extinction. Only 30 to 40 amur leopards survive in the wild.  This medium sized cat is found in isolated areas of southwestern Russia, northeast China and North Korea.  Habitat loss, poaching, and declining prey animals contribute to its population decline. Anti poaching enforcement, education programs, and compensation for farmers that lose livestock have slowed the decline, but these efforts may not be enough to save the species.  The leopard seen here is in a Species Survival Plan.  The plan is managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and its purpose is to maintain a genetically pure captive population of about one hundred amur leopards for release into the wild.  However, conditions need to improve in the leopard’s native range for any of these leopards to be released.
When resting in its enclosure the amur leopard tries to keep much of its body hidden.  The leopard is staring at you so look for its face. 

Look for the Reeve’s Mutjac in their new exhibit opposite the gibbons. This small tusked deer lives in the forest and snowy mountains of southeast China and Thailand.  This is a solitary animal and is often trying to stay hidden.  Look for it along the edges of the exhibit and under the shrubs. Adjacent to the muntjac are a pair of white-naped cranes. These beautiful birds perform an elaborate courting ritual and are very vocal.

Joining the muntjac and cranes are a pair of white-cheeked gibbons. These agile animals which inhabit Asia are exhibited in the Tam-ring Gibbon Reserve which is a recreation of an anciant Thai temple ruin.

The zoo's pair of cougars currently reside in this area, they will be relocated to the zoo's North American section as part of the zoo's masterplan.