This is the moment a wildlife ranger installing a camera to spy on Amur leopards comes face-to-face with the real thing in a bizarre encounter.

The curious cat spotted technician Anton Ganzevich as he was setting up the camera at the Land of the Leopard National Park in Russia's Far East.

But quick as a flash, Anton filmed the encounter while he tried to hide in the thick undergrowth in Primorsky Krai.

In the extraordinary footage shows the intrigued big cat, identified as Leo 191M, prowls cautiously close to the ranger as he picks up his scent.

Keeping a distance, it pads around the clearing never taking its eyes off him as he circles closer to check him out.

The Amur leopard is listed as "critically endangered" by the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Primorsky Krai, Russia - September 13, 2024

This is the moment a wildlife ranger installing a capture camera to spy on Amur leopards comes face-to-face with the real thing in a bizarre encounter.

The curious cat spotted technician Anton Ganzevich as he was setting up the camera at the Land of the Leopard National Park in Russia's Far East.

But quick as a flash, Anton filmed the encounter while he tried to hide in the thick undergrowth in Primorsky Krai.

In the extraordinary footage shows the intrigued big cat, identified as Leo 191M, prowls cautiously close to the ranger as he picks up his scent.

Keeping a distance, it pads around the clearing never taking its eyes off him as he circles closer to check him out.

At times the leopard opens its mouth almost as if grinning, but in fact, it is improving airflow over a specialised olfactory organ in the roof of its mouth to get a better smell.