ANIMAL: African Leopard Panthera pardus Type of Animal: Feline Habitat: Bush, forest, desert, semi-desert, savanna, grassland, mountainous areas, woodland, swampland, rural areas, urban areas, coastal scrub, shrubland Location(s): Most of Sub-Saharan Africa, except for parts of Kalahari Desert. Appearance: Pale yellow to tawny to gold w/ black rosettes. Head/belly/lower limbs spotted solid black. “Black Panthers” just melanistic mutation of leopard. Food/Diet: Primates, goats, antelope, impala, zebras, birds up to size of ostriches, gazelles, elephant calves, lion cubs, giraffe calves, pygmy hippos, hyraxes, hares, rabbits, rodents (including porcupines), carrion, monitor lizards, pythons, crocodiles, tortoises, fish, insects, cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, donkeys, jackals, servals, foxes, dogs, amphibians, okapi, hippo calves, forest buffalo, cape buffalo calves, rhino calves, pangolins, civets. There have been rare cases of man-eating leopards. Status in Wild: Threatened Conservation: Breeding in zoos & wildlife parks Lifestyle: Solitary Additional Info: Called: Male-Leopard Female-Leopardess Young-Cub Group-Solitary Weight: Male-130-150 lbs Female-75-90 lbs Young-15-20 lbs Gestation:3-4 months Height: Male-1.9-2.5 ft Female-1.8-2.1 ft Body Length: Female-3-4.5 ft Male-4-6 ft Life Span: 12-15 years in wild, up to 20 years in captivity Tail Length: 2-3.5 ft, same for both sexes Only predators of adults are Nile Crocs, which only happens if croc wins fight w/ leopard. Cubs preyed on by wild dogs, lions, hyenas, male leopards, & rock pythons. Very territorial w/ fights often resulting in death. Each male territory covers up to 5 female territories. Declining due to hunting for fur, persecution, habitat loss, logging, & sport hunting. Sexually mature at 1.5 years old. They purr, mew, & roar. Mothers give birth to 1-4 cubs in a den. Fun Fact(s): A leopard will often take large prey, sometimes 10 times its own size, up into fork of tree to keep away from other predators & scavengers. They’re amazing climbers. Generally shy, they can also be highly dangerous. A mom w/ cubs or cornered/wounded leopard won’t hesitate to attack.
