Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level IV: Large Carnivores - Leopard

Trophic Level IV: Large Carnivores
Leopard
Page 9

Panthera pardus

Length: 104-140 cm (41-55") female, 130-190 cm (51-75") male

Tail: 60-110 cm (24-43")

Weight: 28-60 kg (62-132 lb.) female, 35-90 kg (77-198 lb.) male

Status: Rare but not endangered

Habitat: Leopards are found in areas where there is heavy cover and broken terrain. In the Serengeti-Mara, they are found in riverine forests, in woodlands and forests and on wooded kopjes. They are often seen around Seronera Valley. In the Masai Mara, they are often sighted around Leopard Lugga (a lugga is a small valley).

They have the greatest habitat range of any African cat. They can be found in rainforests, deserts, mountain tops and grasslands. Leopards have adapted well to the presence of humans. They are found in forested areas around settled areas and have been known to take cats and dogs in the suburbs of Nairobi!

Worldwide, they are perhaps the most successful large cat. They still exist in considerable numbers in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. There are an estimated one million leopards, although some sub-species are endangered.

(Author’s note: A panther is another name for leopard. Black panthers are really black leopards. The black color phase is most often found in forests.)

Food: Leopards eat a wide variety of animals ranging in size from small mammals to medium-sized antelope. Their prey ranges from beetles to animals three times the leopard’s own weight. Even in areas like the Serengeti-Mara, where there are large antelope populations, these animals will make up less than 15% of their diet. Birds, rodents, hyraxes and even insects make up the majority of their prey. Leopards eat whatever is most available and easily caught. Among their prey are listed the following: impala, Thomson's gazelle, Grant's gazelle, topi, reedbuck, wildebeest (calves), zebra (foals), dikdik, warthog and bush pigs, ostrich, jackals, domestic dogs, bat-eared foxes, cats, serval, baboons, vervets, rodents, ground squirrels, hedgehogs, hyraxes, birds, python and beetles. Studies of the Serengeti population list 30 species of prey animals. In contrast, lions prey only on about 12.

Leopards stalk their prey or ambush them from trees. Their spotted coats are excellent camouflage but a leopard in a tree that is otherwise invisible is often spotted by its long tail which it carelessly dangles from the branch.

The Hunt

Leopards like to get within 5 meters (15 feet) of their prey before pouncing. They will not attempt a chase if they are not within 20 meters (60 feet). Chases seldom cover more than 50 meters (150 feet). Leopards can hit speeds of 60 kilometers per hour (37 mph).

Leopards either consume their prey immediately if it is small or take it up into trees to eat later if it is a larger animal. Leopards are very strong and can carry a 70 kilogram impala (150 pounds) up into the top branches of a tree.

A leopard is estimated to need between 1 000 and 1 200 kilograms (2204-2645 lb.) of meat per year. The actual figure might be considerably higher. In one study in South Africa, a single leopard killed an average of 7 kilograms (15 lb.) per day. In the Serengeti-Mara, it is estimated that the leopard population kills between 720 000 and 1 080 000 kilograms (1,587,000-2,380,900 lb.) of prey per year.

Carrying their kills into a tree is common among African leopards but those in Asia or in heavily forested areas do not do this. Why? The main reason for taking prey up into trees seems to be to keep it away from hyenas and lions. (These threats do not exist outside Africa.) Both of these species will steal a leopard's kill and there is little the solitary cat can do to prevent its loss. Lions will kill leopards.

Another advantage of storing their kill in trees is to keep vultures from feeding on it. A leopard will return to a kill for several days.

Social System: Leopards are solitary animals. Males and females seek out each other only for purposes of breeding. A male's range is larger than that of a female and can overlap that of two or three females. Range sizes vary from 9 square kilometers (3.4 square miles) in excellent habitat to over 60 square kilometers (23 square miles) in poor habitat. In the Serengeti, a male and three females hunted along the same 5 kilometer (3 mile) stretch of river and rarely came into contact.

Larger ranges are not defended but a leopard will protect a small core area that it uses most frequently. Leopards mark their range by urine-spraying a tree, bush or rock. They will also sharpen their claws on trees. Other leopards will sniff these marks and use them to avoid running into leopards within their range.

Leopards have a "sawing" call that advertises the animal’s location and sex. The call is made every six minutes or so, usually while the animal is walking. The call is made most often after dark.

The entire range is covered on a regular basis. A leopard will normally walk 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) a night and may, if frightened, cover over 75 (46.6 mile).

The Female’s Life

Females do have overlapping ranges, possibly sharing part of their range with their daughters even though they no longer associate. Males may also have overlapping ranges but more study is needed to clarify this.

In the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, there may be as many as 1,000 leopards or as few as 500. These cats are especially difficult to count due to their solitary and reclusive nature. One study done in the park suggests an average of one leopard for every 22 to 26 square kilometers (8.5-10 square miles).

Behavior: Female leopards will breed for the first time when they are two years old. They will produce a litter every two years, on average. One to three young are born after a gestation period of 90 to 100 days.

Females seek a secluded, hidden place to give birth. It may be a dense thicket, a cave or rocky outcrop on a kopje, or a hollow tree. Cubs are born blind and helpless. They weigh between 400 and 600 grams (14 to 21 ounces) at birth. Their eyes open in 6 to 10 days.

For the first month and a half the cubs remain hidden. They may be moved several times if their mother feels threatened or if the den is in danger of being discovered.

When the cubs are ready to leave the den, they begin to eat meat. If their mother brings down a large animal such as an impala, she will lead them to the tree in which she cached it. Smaller kills are brought to the den. By the time they are three months old, the cubs are weaned. During these first critical months, the female will spend over half her time with the cubs. She also reduces the size of her range so that she does not wander too far from the den.

When the cubs go hunting with their mother, it is one of the most dangerous periods of their lives. Their playfulness may attract the attention of a lion or even a male leopard. Both may attack and kill the cubs.

They will spend two years with her, gradually growing independent. Male cubs will leave her range but a female cub may continue to share a portion of her mother's range after she reaches sexual maturity.

They can live to be 20 years old.

Predators: Lions and spotted hyenas will chase a leopard off its kill. Lions will kill leopards.

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