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The world's most endangered species of big cat has cheated almost certain extinction after a remarkable baby boom earlier this year.

As recently as 2007 only 30 Amur leopards were counted in the wild in the Russian Far East and extinction seemed all but inevitable.

However, now 16 cubs have been spotted in a nature reserve set up by Vladimir Putin to ensure their survival.

Camera traps in the 1,000 square mile Land of the Leopard National Park have counted the new arrivals, including three born to a leopardess named Queen Borte - after the famously fertile first wife of Genghis Khan - by Hollywood action hero Steven Seagal.

In all, eight female leopards are known to have had offspring in recent months and scientists say every one of the cubs has a "healthy appearance".

Video footage shows cubs feasting on a killed roe deer.

The number of cubs is three times as many as were spotted in 2014, and indicates the success of a Kremlin-driven campaign to save an animal even after its survival seemed forlorn due to decades of poaching.

"The species is officially 'critically endangered', but these images show genuine new hope for avoiding extinction," reported The Siberian Times .

Read more:Adorable white tiger cub bare its fangs

In March, Kremlin chief of staff Sergei Ivanov announced there are now 80 Amur leopards in the wild, a major recovery from the low point nine years ago.

Tougher penalties have been imposed against poachers seeking the skins of leopards and also Siberian tigers, also an endangered species.

Yet rising number of leopards has led to attacks on farm livestock, but a special scheme has been put in place to avoid angry farmers shooting the predators.

A major insurance company with close links to the Russian government has set up a scheme to compensate cattle owners whose herds are attacked by the leopards.

"One of the largest Russian insurance companies has volunteered to insure the damage caused by leopards," said Ivanov.

"The maximum insurance amounts to up to two million roubles (£20,600)."

The insurance scheme is a 'correct' and 'civilised solution', he said.

Read more:Rare mating snow leopards caught on camera for first time in history

"We can say that our animals are becoming less exposed to dangers coming from humans.

"In these conditions, our cats are reproducing very well."