|
Leopard is the most widespread of all of the cats due to its highly adaptable hunting and feeding behavior. Preying with a combination of opportunism, stealth, and speed, they hunt alone and generally, like the tiger and lion, hunt at night. Ambushing and stalking within close range before a short, fast rush.
Adept tree climbers, leopards often drag their prey up trees out of reach from other predators. Because of variety and small size of prey, leopards will avoid contact and conflict with stronger competition, such as lions, tigers, hyenas and wild dogs. Territories, though, are defended with fierce fights. Leopards spray (mark their areas) on grass, logs, trees and brush.
Strong vocalization is used to proclaim territones and to make contact with separated individuals. Sounding like a rough rasping noise (chain-saw through rough wood).
The Leopard today is known as one of the "BIG FIVE" highly rated prey of sport hunters. Others being Lion, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhino.
Leopards wide use of trees is mainly for resting; safely aloft from predators, shaded from the midday sun. For hunting; ready to leap, a leopard will survey its surrounding area for food, Occasionally dropping straight down directly atop passing prey. For conserving food; often dragging food to the top away from scavengers.
Having no particular breeding season, females are sexually receptive at 3-7 week intervals lasting a few days. Mating is frequent daily. Litters consisting of 1-6, though usually 3 cubs. All cubs are born blind weighing from 15-20 ounces. Cubs are kept hidden until they can follow their mother at 6-8 weeks. Only the mother will care for the young. She does this until 18-24 months, whereupon she will mate again
|
