Leopards

The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a large felid in the family Felidae, native to Africa and parts of Asia. It is one of the five “big cats” in the genus Panthera. Leopards display a coat that ranges from pale gold to deep yellow, with distinctive black rosettes. They have a muscular build, short enterprise of limbs, and a long tail that aids balance in trees and on uneven ground.

Leopards are highly adaptable and occupy a broad range of habitats, including forests, savannas, grasslands, mountains, and arid regions. They are found across sub-Saharan Africa, parts of North Africa and the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and into parts of China. They are typically solitary and mostly active at night or during twilight. As ambush predators, leopards rely on stealth and surprise, and they are skilled climbers capable of hauling prey into trees to avoid scavengers. Their diet is diverse, comprising larger ungulates such as gazelles and deer, as well as primates, smaller mammals, and birds when necessary.

Reproduction occurs year-round in some populations, with females giving birth to litters of two to four cubs after a gestation of about 90 to 105 days. Cubs are dependent on their mother for up to two years. Leopards mark and defend territories, though male ranges may overlap with those of females.

Leopards are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Populations decline due to habitat loss and fragmentation, prey depletion, poaching for skins and body parts, and human-wildlife conflict. Conservation efforts include legal protection, protected areas, wildlife corridors, anti-poaching measures, and community-based strategies to reduce conflict. Some subspecies are more threatened than others, with apex regional declines in places like parts of Southeast Asia and the Russian Far East.