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Leopard
The most secretive and elusive of the large carnivores, the leopard is also the shrewdest. Pound for pound, it is the strongest climber of the large cats and capable of killing prey larger than itself.
Physical Characteristics
Leopards come in a wide variety of coat colors, from a light buff or tawny in warmer, dryer areas to a dark shade in deep forests. The spots, or rosettes, are circular in East African leopards but square in southern African leopards. Males are much larger and stockier.
Habitat
Dense bush in rocky surroundings and riverine forest are their favorite habitats, but leopards adapt to many places in both warm and cold climates. Their adaptability, in fact, has helped them survive the loss of habitat to increasing human settlement. Leopards are primarily nocturnal, usually resting during the daytime in trees or thick bush. The spotted coat provides almost perfect camouflage. Mountainous areas, thick bush, along streams and rivers in riverine bush. Leopards are very adaptable and they even occur in dry and semi-desert areas like the Kalahari. Found throughout South Africa with concentrations in most National Parks, provincial reserves, protected and inaccessible areas. Also found in some private nature and game reserves. Common outside conservation areas and generally the only large predator that is often found close to human habitation.
Behavior
As they grow, cubs learn to hunt small animals. The leopard is a cunning, stealthy hunter, and its prey ranges from strong-scented carrion, fish, reptiles and birds to mammals such as rodents, hares, hyraxes, warthogs, antelopes, monkeys and baboons. Leopards are very opportunistic hunters and will feed on a wide variety of prey. Apart from insects, small rodents and large antelope, they will also hunt birds. Baboons, Warthog and Impala are their favorites. Depending on the area and availability of food, Leopards will also prey on dogs and domestic livestock. They are not water dependent in the sense that they do not have to drink water daily, but will drink daily when water is available.
Caring for the young Leopards
A litter includes two or three cubs, whose coats appear to be smoky gray as the rosettes are not yet clearly delineated. The female abandons her nomadic wandering until the cubs are large enough to accompany her. She keeps them hidden for about the first 8 weeks, giving them meat when they are 6 or 7 weeks old and suckling them for 3 months or longer.
Predators
Leopards have long been preyed upon by man. Their soft, dense, beautiful fur has been used for ceremonial robes and coats. Different parts of the leopard the tail, claws and whiskers are popular as fetishes. These cats have a reputation as wanton killers, but research does not support the claim. In some areas farmers try to exterminate them, while in others leopards are considered symbols of wisdom. Leopards do well in captivity, and some have lived as long as 21 years.
Did you know?
Enemies
Humans, Lion, Spotted Hyena, Wild dog, Nile Crocodile
Sources:
http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_leopard.html
http://www.outtoafrica.nl/animals/engleopard.html?zenden=2&subsoort_id=2&bestemming_id=1
http://www.wildlifesouthafrica.com/blog/mammals-of-south-africa/leopard-fact-file
The most secretive and elusive of the large carnivores, the leopard is also the shrewdest. Pound for pound, it is the strongest climber of the large cats and capable of killing prey larger than itself.
Physical Characteristics
Leopards come in a wide variety of coat colors, from a light buff or tawny in warmer, dryer areas to a dark shade in deep forests. The spots, or rosettes, are circular in East African leopards but square in southern African leopards. Males are much larger and stockier.
Habitat
Dense bush in rocky surroundings and riverine forest are their favorite habitats, but leopards adapt to many places in both warm and cold climates. Their adaptability, in fact, has helped them survive the loss of habitat to increasing human settlement. Leopards are primarily nocturnal, usually resting during the daytime in trees or thick bush. The spotted coat provides almost perfect camouflage. Mountainous areas, thick bush, along streams and rivers in riverine bush. Leopards are very adaptable and they even occur in dry and semi-desert areas like the Kalahari. Found throughout South Africa with concentrations in most National Parks, provincial reserves, protected and inaccessible areas. Also found in some private nature and game reserves. Common outside conservation areas and generally the only large predator that is often found close to human habitation.
Behavior
- Leopards are shy, secretive and cunning animals.
- They are solitary except when mating or females with cubs.
- They are mainly nocturnal and probably the most adaptable predator.
- Their food varies from small rodents to large antelope like Kudu and Waterbuck.
- In areas with predators they will hoist their prey into a tree to feed on it, while hiding it from other predators.
- Leopards are perfectly camouflaged and hunt by stalking, ambushing and then pouncing on their prey.
- In areas where there are many other large predators, Leopards usually take their prey up into trees to prevent it from being stolen by the other predators.
- They are very agile in trees and can also swim well.
- Leopards are known to be very powerful and when cornered or harassed can be extremely dangerous to humans.
- When a leopard stalks prey, it keeps a low profile and slinks through the grass or bush until it is close enough to launch an attack.
- When not hunting, it can move through herds of antelopes without unduly disturbing them by flipping its tail over its back to reveal the white underside, a sign that it is not seeking prey.
- Leopards are basically solitary and go out of their way to avoid one another. Each animal has a home range that overlaps with its neighbors; the male's range is much larger and generally overlaps with those of several females.
- A leopard usually does not tolerate intrusion into its own range except to mate. Unexpected encounters between leopards can lead to fights.
- Leopards growl and spit with a screaming roar of fury when angry and they purr when content.
- They announce their presence to other leopards with a rasping or sawing cough.
- They have a good sense of smell and mark their ranges with urine; they also leave claw marks on trees to warn other leopards to stay away.
- Leopards continually move about their home ranges, seldom staying in an area for more than two or three days at a time.
- With marking and calling, they usually know one another's whereabouts.
As they grow, cubs learn to hunt small animals. The leopard is a cunning, stealthy hunter, and its prey ranges from strong-scented carrion, fish, reptiles and birds to mammals such as rodents, hares, hyraxes, warthogs, antelopes, monkeys and baboons. Leopards are very opportunistic hunters and will feed on a wide variety of prey. Apart from insects, small rodents and large antelope, they will also hunt birds. Baboons, Warthog and Impala are their favorites. Depending on the area and availability of food, Leopards will also prey on dogs and domestic livestock. They are not water dependent in the sense that they do not have to drink water daily, but will drink daily when water is available.
Caring for the young Leopards
A litter includes two or three cubs, whose coats appear to be smoky gray as the rosettes are not yet clearly delineated. The female abandons her nomadic wandering until the cubs are large enough to accompany her. She keeps them hidden for about the first 8 weeks, giving them meat when they are 6 or 7 weeks old and suckling them for 3 months or longer.
Predators
Leopards have long been preyed upon by man. Their soft, dense, beautiful fur has been used for ceremonial robes and coats. Different parts of the leopard the tail, claws and whiskers are popular as fetishes. These cats have a reputation as wanton killers, but research does not support the claim. In some areas farmers try to exterminate them, while in others leopards are considered symbols of wisdom. Leopards do well in captivity, and some have lived as long as 21 years.
Did you know?
- The elegant, powerfully built leopard has a long body, relatively short legs and a broad head. Its tawny coat is covered with dark, irregular circles called "rosettes."
- Both lions and hyenas will take away a leopard's kill if they can. To prevent this, leopards store their larger kills in trees where they can feed on them in relative safety.
- A varied diet ensures that the Leopard is able to adjust to just about anything.
- Although Leopards generally feed on medium and small antelopes, they have also have been known to feed on Hyrax, Baboon, Fox, fish and reptiles.
- There are even accounts of Leopards living off a diet of insects and rodents in times of scarcity.
- Leopards are so adaptable that they have even been known to survive on the outskirts of towns and villages.
Enemies
Humans, Lion, Spotted Hyena, Wild dog, Nile Crocodile
Sources:
http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_leopard.html
http://www.outtoafrica.nl/animals/engleopard.html?zenden=2&subsoort_id=2&bestemming_id=1
http://www.wildlifesouthafrica.com/blog/mammals-of-south-africa/leopard-fact-file
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