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There are plenty of activity options opened for you within the Indian
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Home >> Wild
Animals in India >> Leopard
Leopard
The Leopard is a striking looking feline. One of the Big Cats, the Leopard
with its golden yellow coat marked with rosettes, is a compact hunting machine.
Leopards are also called Panthers and the rare Black Panther, a leopard
with a completely black coat, is also seen in India. Black Panthers have
been immortalized as Bagheera the Black Panther in Rudyard Kipling's well
loved children's classic The Jungle Book.
Zoological name
Panthera pardus
Range
Leopards are found in densely forested areas of India including many National
Parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Across the world, leopards have the widest
distribution of any of the Big Cats and are found in Africa, Asia Minor
and the Middle East, across south East Asia, including Sri Lanka and Java
and further North in China and Russia.
Estimated population
It is estimated that there are around 14,000 leopards in India. Worldwide
the population of leopards is estimated to be around 100,000 with the majority
of leopards found in Africa.
Physical characteristics
Leopards grow to be 5 to 8 feet long and can weigh from 60 to 210 pounds.
The leopard has a compact body covered with rosette shaped marks and a thick
tail. The coat of a leopard can vary in color from yellow to reddish brown.
In South Asia Black Panthers are often seen. The coat of the panther is
completely black due a genetic difference. Often some of cubs in one litter
can be all lack while others have the normal color of leopards. The white
tip of the leopards tail is held upright by mother leopards while walking
through dense undergrowth. This helps to guide their cubs and ensure that
they follow her.
Habitat
Leopards are found in thick forests, mountainous terrain, open grasslands
and even in dry scrub jungle. Leopards can adapt to varied environments
and this has helped it survive where many other Big Cats have been severely
affected by habitat destruction. Leopards prefer forest boundary areas,
where they can observe their prey from the trees and emerge for the kill,
only to retreat with their prey back to the safety of the tree line.
Diet
Leopards are carnivores and hunt for prey. They eat anything from large
insects and rodents to wild boar, wild fowl, and the young of buffalo, Gaur
and - in areas of human encroachment - domestic cattle and dogs. Their strength
and agility allow Leopards to drag their prey up into the trees and keep
it safe from scavengers. Leopards therefore are more successful predators
than Cheetahs, with whom they share a habitat in parts of Africa, since
Cheetahs often lose their prey to scavengers such as Lions or Hyenas.
Behavior
Leopards are solitary carnivores. A breeding pair may be seen together briefly.
The mother leopard brings up cubs on her own. Cubs remain with their mother
for up to two years after which they are old enough to fend for themselves.
Leopards can live for up to 20 years in the wild. In zoos leopards have
been known to live for over 25 years. Leopards have been known to turn man-eater
as a result of injury that prevents them from hunting or old age. A famous
example is the Man Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag, which was shot by the
hunter and naturalist Jim Corbett, after whom the Corbett National Park
is named.
Status
The loss of habitat as well as human population pressure on wildlife reserves
in India is a matter of concern for leopard populations in India. There
have been a number of incidents in recent years where leopards have entered
Indian cities from nearby wildlife sanctuaries.
Tourists can see Leopards in most of the large national parks in India except
in dry desert or cold high altitude areas on India wildlife tours.
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