Leopard

Panthera pardus

Facts, Natural History and Conservation Status

Image of Cat Haven's "Hannah"

Did you know?

Pound for pound, leopards are thought to be 7 times stronger than a human.

People have observed leopards hauling a carcass 2-3 times their weight up 50 feet into a tree to avoid scavengers like hyenas.

Leopards have a 20-foot vertical leap.

Generally, leopards are most active between sunset and sunrise, but sometimes they will hunt or travel in the daytime.

Most leopard cubs stay with their mother for 13 to 18 months before becoming independent.

Natural History

There are many different subspecies of leopards, but scientists still disagree as to the exact number. While most people may think leopard are African carts, there are subspecies found in India, China, and Siberia. The leopard has the greatest geographic distribution of any feline.

Leopards are solitary cats, only coming together for breeding. Litter sizes vary from 1-3 cubs, but there have been records of females giving birth to 6 cubs. A few days after her cubs are born, a mother leopard will only leave her den to hunt. Occasionally, the mother leopard will move the cubs to a new den site to protect them from potential predators.

With only 40-60 individuals left in the wild, the Amur leopard is considered to be the most endangered subspecies of leopard. These cats face threats like poaching for the fur trade, habitat loss, and conflict with humans. However, there are over 250 Amur leopards within human care, serving as ambassadors for their species.

Conservation Status: Threatened

Leopards of Cat Haven

Jane

Jet

Hannah

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