 Leopard (Panthera pardus)
Description.
Leopards have an elongate and muscular body, with broad paws and short
ears. They are usually but not always spotted as in the photo. The
coloration varies from the color of straw to grayish to even chesnut.
The backs of the ears are black except for a spot either located
centrally or near the tips. (To other animals these may appear as
eyes.) The throat, chest, belly, and the insides of the limbs are
white. The rest of the head, throat, chest, and limbs all have small
black spots. The belly has larger black spots, almost like blotches.
Region and habitat have an affect on the appearance of P. pardus. Leopards living in
hilly areas tend to be larger than those living in lowlands. A tendency
to melanism (black coloration) is more frequent in densely forested
areas where being darker is probably beneficial. Whether spotted or
black, leopards' coloration is extrememly effective. Scientists have
been unable to spot these cats just a few yards away even knowing that
they were present.
Size. The leopard ranges in
size from 1 to almost 2 metres long, and weighs between 30 - 70 kg.
Females are typically around two-thirds the size of males.
Habitat. Leopards can adapt to a
vareity of habitats, from subtropical forests to rugged
mountains. They are wide-ranging and cyrptic, seldom seen but certainly
know to frequent the mountains of the Western Cape.
Behavior. Leopards are famous for
their ability to go undetected. They may live practically among humans
and still be tough to spot. They are graceful and stealthy. Amongst the
big cats they are probably the most accomplished stalkers. They are
good, agile climbers and can descend from a tree headfirst. They are
mainly nocturnal but can be seen at any time of day and will even hunt
during daytime on overcast days. In regions like the Heidelberg area
where they have been hunted, nocturnal behavior is more common. These
cats are solitary, avoiding one another. However, 3 or 4 are sometimes
seen together. Hearing and eyesight are the strongest of these cats'
senses and are extremely acute. Olfaction is relied upon as well, but
not for hunting. When making a threat, leopards stretch their backs,
depress their ribcages between their shoulder blades so they stick out,
and lower their heads (similar to domestic cats). During the day they
may lie in bush, on rocks, or in a tree with their tails hanging below
the branches.
Diet. Leopards are versatile
carnivores. Prey in the Wildcliff area include baboons as well as buck
such as grysbok and klipspringer, and smaller mammals. AThey do prey on
livestock, and at times they seem to show a preference for canines,
even attempting in the past to snatch dogs right from the feet of their
masters. They will even eat carrion. These cats are capable of sneaking
right up next to the prey before being spotted, almost appearing from
nowhere. Bite marks occur on the nape of the neck and the throat. The
marks on the throat indicate strangulation. Leopards are capable of
carrying carcasses bigger than themselves and dragging them up trees to
avoid losing prey to other carnivores. They may also store kills in
trees for later use
Predators. None known in the
Wildcliff area, except for the occasional report of illegal shooting by
a farmer.
 Reproduction. African leopards may
mate all year round. The estrous cycle lasts about 46 days and the
female usually isin heat for 6-7 days. Cubs are usually born in a
litter of 2-3, but infant mortality
is high and mothers are not commonly seen with more than
1-2 cubs. The pregnant females find a cave, crevice among boulders,
hollow tree, or thicket to give birth and make a den. Cubs open their
eyes after a period of 10 days. The fur of the young tends to be longer
and thicker than that of adults. Their pelage is also more gray in
color with less defined spots. Around 3 months the infants begin to
follow the mother out on hunts. At one year of age leopard young can
probably fend for themselves but they remain with the mother for 18-24
month
On
Wildcliff.
Known
from tracks and attacks to roam the Langeberg mountain range of which
Wildcliff is a part, but no confirmed sightings on Wildcliff.
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