The Amur-Heilong harbors an incredible variety of species. Some 2,800 plant and 500 animal species inhabit the Russian side of the river alone. The area is a key habitat for some critically endangered wildlife such as the Amur tiger and the Amur leopard, which sits perilously close to the brink of extinction.
The old-growth deciduous and coniferous forests are also home to musk deer and brown bears. And the wetland ecosystems of the Amur-Heilong offer important refuge for migratory waterfowl, such as Oriental white storks and red-crowned cranes. The Amur River is home to the world's largest salmon, the 150-pound Siberian taimen. Wild ginseng, treasured for its healing powers, grows across the Russian Far East portion of the region.