Originally believed to be a hybrid crossing of a lion and a panther, the leopard is known as the smallest of the four “big cats,” belonging to the genus Panthera. Well-known for their stocky build and beautifully patterned yellow, black and white coats, it’s actually a little-known fact that these unique cats were once distinguished from their panther cousins, simply by the length of their tail rather than by their coloring or pattern of spots. In truth, the leopard’s coat can vary from a pale straw-yellow to a rich chestnut shade and, in some cases, leopards can even be found in a coat that is so dark that it appears a deep ochre or dusty black (this is due to a recessive gene and is not a separate species).

Depending on the species and habitat in which they live, the leopard can vary from 3-6.5 feet in length and can have a tail that is up to 43 inches in length. These big cats can be found to stand anywhere from 17-30.5 inches high at the withers (the highest point of the shoulders), and the males have been known to weigh anywhere from 80-150 pounds, as adults, with females averaging 60-100 pounds when fully grown.

The Leopard Diet

Armed with deadly fangs, claws and a surprising mixture of strength and agility, these big cats are formidable hunters who are capable of taking down prey such as the Thompson‘s gazelle, baboons, and frequently prey upon the young or infirmed members of wildebeest, impala, and zebra herds. The leopard is often a very lazy hunter, as well as one who will use each and every opportunity that comes his way. Because of this, their diet can commonly consist of anything from insects to fish and, with the spread of human population pressing further and further into the leopard’s natural territory, these big cats have also been known to dine upon domestic pigs, cattle, and even dogs when hungry enough.

Man-eaters?

While there are always tales of man-eating cats, most leopards tend to avoid all human contact. The exception usually occurs when the animals are sickly, injured, or too old to hunt anymore and they turn to what appears to be the easiest and most readily available prey. Two leopards in India, however, earned the justified titles of man-eater. The Leopard of Rudraprayag, as he was known, was believed to have killed more than 125 people and, in one bizarre case, more than 400 human kills were racked up by an injured leopardess who was known as the “Panar Leopard.” Believed to have been partially crippled by poachers, this female leopard was rendered unable to hunt normal prey and turned to stalking humans until she was killed by famous hunter, Jim Corbett.

The Leopard Variety and Habitat

Leopards are found in many different countries and have adapted to a variety of terrains and climates. On the whole, however, they tend to lead a mostly arboreal existence and are capable of dragging prey that is 3 times their own weight, high up into the branches where they can lounge in peace. Not only does this allow them to snack at their leisure, but it also helps to protect their prey from lions, hyenas and other scavengers. Even without considering their solitary lifestyle, the likelihood of an adult leopard proving any match for a pride of hungry lions is very slim.

While some claim that there are more than 30 different subspecies of leopards in the world today, most researchers and naturalists group them into one of 9 subspecies categories:

The African Leopard - Native to Africa, this subspecies also includes the varieties Barbary Leopard, Cape Leopard, Central African Leopard, Congo Leopard, East African Leopard, Eritrean leopard, Somalian Leopard, West African Leopard, West African Forest Leopard, and the Zanzibar Leopard. Believed to be the most common of all the leopards, the African Leopard thrives in the country’s deserts, savannas and forest areas.

Amur Leopard - Once native to the densely wooded areas of Northern China, Korea and far eastern parts of Russia, this is now known to be the most endangered big cat in the world. Despite the beauty of this leopard’s vivid orange-gold coloring, he has been overshadowed by the Siberian Tiger when it comes to conservation attempts and is currently threatened with extinction. At last count, there were less than 35 known Amur Leopards left in Russia’s Sikhote-Alin mountains and only 6 of those individuals were female.

Arabian Leopard - Native to the Arabian peninsula, this subspecies is sometimes grouped with the Persian Leopard. Critically endangered, these are beautiful specimens who prefer to live high in the mountains and survive on a diet mainly consisting of birds, mountain goats, and will even eat carrion, should opportunity present itself. Known as one of the smaller varieties of leopards, these beautiful individuals are noted for their unique coats, consisting of rosettes across their back, with the rest of their body ranging from a grayish-white to beige shade.

Indian Leopard - Commonly found throughout India, the south-eastern parts of Pakistan, and Nepal, this subspecies also includes the Kashmir Leopard and Nepal Leopard. Perhaps one of the most versatile of the leopard subspecies, this variety can be found in habitats which range from the desert wastelands to lush tropical rainforests.

Indo-Chinese Leopard - Usually found throughout the mainland of south-eastern Asia.

The Java Leopard - Only found on the Indonesian island of Java, these big cats enjoy their solitary existences in the forests of various volcanic mountains in the area.

North China Leopard - Found throughout the more remote forests of China and Korea, this variety is extremely rare and almost never seen wild, in his natural habitat.

Persian Leopard - Also known as the Iranian Leopard, this big cat favors life in south-western Asia. In addition to the title of Persian Leopard, other varieties that are grouped in this subspecies include the Anatolian Leopard, Baluchistan Leopard, Caucasus and Central Persian Leopards, as well as the Sinail Leopard. Known as the largest of the leopard families, these big cats thrive in juniper forests and prefer areas where rocky cliffs provide them the perfect hiding places.

Sri Lanka Leopard - Considered to be one of the largest of the leopards, the Sri Lankan Leopard is known as the country’s top predator and can be found throughout the various forests, rainforests, and even in the country’s more arid regions.

Not Really a Leopard?

When asked for their favorite kind of leopard, many will quickly reply that they find the mysterious Snow Leopard to be a personal choice. Whether or not this big cat is actually a leopard, however, is still a topic for much discussion. Also known as an Ounce, this beautiful big cat can be found throughout the mountains of central and southern Asia, where he uses his beautiful soft grey and spotted coat to blend in with the snowy terrain. The question, however, is whether the Snow Leopard belongs to the genus Panthera or if he is some sort of missing link between the big cats and smaller species of wild felines. Interesting to note is that, much like smaller breeds of cat, the Snow Leopard is unable to roar.

Found in a wide variety of colors and sizes, the leopard is a big and beautiful cat that has captivated many with his molten gold eyes, uniquely-patterned coat, and his sleek frame. Sadly, however, most varieties of the leopard are threatened and facing extinction in the wild. While groups like the WWF and various conservation programs have made incredible progress in the protection of these fantastic felines’ natural habitats, the fight is never-ending and more public awareness is needed, lest we lose more of these beautiful big cats to extinction.

Shawna L. Krautheim

2007