The population of the Amur leopard, the rarest cat in the world, is showing signs of recovery, according to a report from the forestry department in Jilin province and the World Wide Fund For Nature.

"Thanks to (China's) enormous efforts to protect forests and crack down on poaching, the big cat appears to be rebounding in China," said Jiang Jinsong, an official from Jilin provincial forestry department.

Earlier this year, the department, jointly with the WWF and Wildlife Conservation Society, performed an Amur leopard survey in the province's Changbai Mountain area. The goal of the investigation was to confirm the big cat's habitat and population and make preparations for further protection.