Leopards have a very long history on this planet. Fossils of the leopard’s ancestors date back to the Pleistocene epoch (Ice Age) which occurred between 2 and 3.5 million years ago.

The leopard is a big cat species that inhabits Africa and Asia. Leopards vary quite a bit in size and coloring depending on where they are found. They are considered Critically Endangered in Asia.

Many of the remaining populations in Asia are decreasing in size and fragmented. Declining wild leopard populations are the result of habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade.

Scientific Name: Panthera pardus
Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Subspecies: There are several subspecies of leopard:

  • Indian leopard (Panthera p. fusca) – Pakistan, India, Nepal, Buhtan and Bangladesh.
  • African leopard (Panthera p. pardus) – North, West, East, Central and South Africa
  • Javan leopard (Panthera p. melas) – Java (Indonesia)
  • Arabian leopard (Panthera p. nimr) – Saudi Arabia, Arabian Peninsula, Oman, Yemen, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Jordon, Syria, Lebanon
  • Amur leopard (Panthera p. oreintalis) – Russian Far East and China (North)
  • Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera. p. kotiya) – Sri Lanka
  • Indochinese leopard (Panthera. p. delacouri) – Southeast Asia
  • Anatolian leopard (Panthera p. tulliana) – Turkey (East), the Caucasus, Georgia, Armenia, Russia (South), Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran (North) and Iraq.

Meaning of the name

Leopard comes from the Greek words leon and panther (“lion” and “pardos”).

Interesting facts about leopards

  • The leopard’s diet is more varied than any other wild cat.
  • Leopards are more broadly distributed in Africa and Asia compared to other wild cats.
  • The leopard has a very long tail in relationship to the size of its body.
  • Leopards climb trees and will often hide their kill there.

About the leopard

Physical appearance

A walking leopardBoth the jaguar and leopard have similar black markings on their fur, called “rosettes.” However, the leopard’s rosettes are smaller and closer together. They are also shaped differently based on where the leopard lives.

Leopards are smaller than jaguars. They have  short legs, a long body and big head. The cat’s body (including its head) can be up to 65 inches in length, with a tail up to 43 inches long. Males can weigh nearly 200 lbs. and are larger than females.

Habitat (where leopards live)

The leopard’s range includes areas in Siberia, through parts of Asia and regions in Africa below the Sahara Desert. The leopard was once found in places like Kuwait, Singapore, Hong Kong, Libya and Tunisia, but is not considered extinct in those regions. They prefer living in forests and grasslands, and stay away from urban areas, deserts, and places where the snow remains on the ground for a long period of time.

Hunting and prey (diet)

Leopards have a varied diet that includes different types of hoofed animals, reptiles, rodents, primates, birds and insects. Leopards will stalk their prey and many times hide their kills in a tree.

Reproduction and lifespan

Leopard mating begins in January and February. Female leopards typically give birth to 2 to 4 cubs. Between 40 – 50% of the cubs that are born each year do not survive their first 12 months. The cubs are raised in a den, and will stay with their mother for up to two years.

Leopard conservation issues

Leopards face conservation threats similar to those of other wild cats, including habitat loss and poaching. The cat is losing its habitat due to residential and commercial development, farming, ranching and mining. Human intrusions and disturbance are another factor impacting the cat’s ability to survive.  Loss of prey is another growing problem for this big cat. Trophy (sport) hunting and illegal wildlife trade are other serious conservation issues.

 

Find leopard conservation organizations…


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