The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a member of
the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats," the other
three being the tiger, lion and jaguar. There are nine recognized subspecies of leopard.
All subspecies except the African leopard can be found in Asia, South Asia, and
India.
DIET
Leopards eat small
hoofstock such as gazelle, impala, deer and wildebeast. On occasion, they may
also hunt monkeys, rodents and birds. They often bring their prey up into the
branches of a tree to at it and protect it from other predators and scavengers.
Following a 90 - 105 day gestation, one to six kittens are born.
The average litter size is two or three. Kittens weigh about one pound when
they are born. They will stay with their mother for 18 to 24 months.
Leopards are found
throughout most of Africa and Asia from the middle east to the Soviet Union,
Korea, China, India, and Malaysia. Leopards live in a variety of habitats
including forests, mountains, grassland and deserts.
BEHAVIOR
Leopards are
nocturnal animals, meaning they are active at night. During the day, they rest
in thick brush or in trees. Leopards are solitary, preferring to live alone.
They are very agile and good swimmers. They are able to leap more than 20 feet.
REPRODUCTION
Following a 90 - 105 day gestation, one to six kittens are born.
The average litter size is two or three. Kittens weigh about one pound when
they are born. They will stay with their mother for 18 to 24 months.
They have a preference for wooded or rocky habitats unlike cheetahs and thus can be found in virtually all habitats that offer adequate cover being the most common of Africa’s large felines.
They are present in most Ugandan National Parks and forest reserves but can be seen most regularly along the Chanel track in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
HOW TO IDENTIFY A LEOPARD
Leopards are masters of stealth and extremely
difficult to trace and locate in the wild. They are light coloured with
distinctive dark spots that are called rosettes, because they resemble the
shape of a rose.
Black leopards, which appear to be almost solid
in colour because their spots are hard to distinguish, are commonly called
black panthers.
HOW LEOPARDS BEHAVE
The leopard is so strong and comfortable in trees that it often hauls its kills into the branches. By dragging the bodies of large animals aloft it hopes to keep them safe from scavengers such as hyenas.
Leopards can also hunt from trees, where their spotted coats allow them to blend with the leaves until they spring with a deadly pounce. These nocturnal predators also stalk antelope, deer, and pigs by stealthy movements in the tall grass. When human settlements are present, leopards often attack dogs and, occasionally, people.
Leopards are strong swimmers and very much at home in the water, where they sometimes eat fish or crabs.
Female leopards can give birth at any time of the year. They usually have two grayish cubs with barely visible spots. The mother hides her cubs and moves them from one safe location to the next until they are old enough to begin playing and learning to hunt. Cubs live with their mothers for about two years—otherwise, leopards are solitary animals.
INTERESTING
LEOPARD FACTS
Leopards are the most successful and cunning among big cats.
The Clouded Leopard has the longest canines amongst cat species.
Pound for pound, leopards are the strongest among big cats.
Leopards are territorial animals and regularly mark and defend their domain against intruders.
Man eating leopards always operate at night since unlike tigers they never lose their fear of man and only enter human territories in the cover of darkness - according to famous hunter turned conservationist Jim Corbett. This makes them very difficult to counteract.
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