5 Facts About African Leopards
Leopards Panthera pardus are the embodiment of feline grace, beauty, power and stealth with their long, low-slung bodies and short muscular limbs. Amongst African wildlife, they are the most widespread of wild felid covering most of pan-Africa.
Some of the best places to see African Leopard while on an African safari are the Masai Mara Nature Reserve in Kenya; Lobo and Seronera in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania; Londolozi, Kruger National Park in South Africa; Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana and South Luangwa in Zambia.
5 Fascinating Facts About African Leopards
Male leopards are usually much larger and stockier, and have a significantly bigger head and paws compared to females. Male leopards can weigh up to 198lbs (90kgs), with female’s around 132lbs (60kgs).
The spots on a leopard’s coat are grouped and known as rosettes. Occasionally black leopards are seen and although they too have spots they’re nearly obscured by the black coat. Black Leopards, often referred to generally as black panthers, are mostly found in humid tropics. The difference in colour is not indicative of separate sub-species, but rather the dominance of the dark-coloured pigment melanin in the skin, and is the opposite of albinism.
Ranked just above the Cheetah in the pecking order it’s certainly no slouch, so it’s mystifying why a Leopard will allow Hyenas to so easily take its kill, preferring to flee up the nearest tree. There is evidence to suggest that Leopards have an inferiority complex and that confrontations are unnerving. That said, a Leopard with cubs is more likely to stand its ground.
Adult Leopards can accelerate to 37mph (60kph) and are tremendously strong and are able to take down 300lb (136kg) wildebeests and other antelope and are able to carry a 150lb impala up a tree with ease.
For all of its incredible stealth, the majority of African Leopard stalks end in failure, especially during the daytime.
Threats to African Leopards
The primary threats to African Leopards are habitat fragmentation, reduced prey base, and human-wildlife conflict which have greatly reduced their numbers. Although they are widely distributed across Africa, due to habitat fragmentation and loss, their range has reduced by 31 percent worldwide in the past three generations (about 25 years). Commercialised bushmeat trade has also caused a collapse of prey populations across large parts of savanna Africa. Source: BPCT
African Leopard Conservation - Botswana
The goal of the Botswana Predator Conversation Trust (BPCT) is to preserve Africa’s large carnivore guild, that is African Wild Dog, Cheetah, Leopard, African Lion and Spotted Hyena. In order to achieve this their research focuses on:
The behaviour and ecology of threatened and endangered large carnivore species
The effect of human development on wildlife species and their habitats
The impact of management and development policies and activities relating to these areas
Through this line of enquiry they intent to better understand the natural mechanisms of conflict avoidance and strategies for co-existence within the large predator guild, ensuring that the appropriate measures are in place for a healthy guild population in protected lands. Source: BPCT
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