LEOPARD
The leopard is one of the five extant
species in the genus Panthera, a member of the Felidae. It occurs in a wide
range in sub-Saharan Africa, in small parts of Western and Central Asia, on the
Indian subcontinent to Southeast and East Asia. It is listed as Vulnerable on
the IUCN Red List because leopard populations are threatened by habitat loss
and fragmentation, and are declining in large parts of the global range. In
Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuwait, Syria, Libya, Tunisia and most likely in Morocco,
leopard populations have already been extirpated. Contemporary records suggest
that the leopard occurs in only 25% of its historical global range.
Leopards are hunted illegally, and
their body parts are smuggled in the wildlife trade for medicinal practices and
decoration.
Compared to other wild cats, the
leopard has relatively short legs and a long body with a large skull. Its fur
is marked with rosettes. It is similar in appearance to the jaguar, but has a
smaller, lighter physique, and its rosettes are generally smaller, more densely
packed and without central spots. Both leopards and jaguars that are melanistic
are known as black panthers. The leopard is distinguished by its
well-camouflaged fur, opportunistic hunting behavior, broad diet, strength, and
its ability to adapt to a variety of habitats ranging from rainforest to
steppe, including arid and montane areas. It can run at speeds of up to 58 kilometres
per hour (36 mph). The earliest known leopard fossils excavated in Europe are
estimated 600,000 years old, dating to the late Early Pleistocene. Leopard
fossils were also found in Japan.
Leopards are graceful and powerful
big cats closely related to lions, tigers, and jaguars. They live in
sub-Saharan Africa, northeast Africa, Central Asia, India, and China. However,
many of their populations are endangered, especially outside of Africa.
Hunting Skills: 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.
Breeding: 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.
Leopard Spots: Most leopards are light
colored 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 color because their spots are hard to distinguish, are commonly called black
panthers.
