About Leopard
The name "leopard" comes from the Greek word leopardus, which is a combination of leon (lion) and pardus (panther).The leopard is a graceful animal with an elongated body, relatively short legs and a long tail. Leopards are carnivores, but they aren't picky eaters. They will prey on any animal that comes across their path. Leopards are big cats known for their golden, spotted bodies and graceful, yet ferocious hunting techniques. Leopards are good hunters. Leopard are excellent climbers and spend the vast majority of the daytime hours resting in the shade of the branches in the trees or under a sheltered rock. leopards live all over the world. Though their reach is vast, their numbers are declining.
Here we discuss the eleven types of leopard, their important characteristics and the current state of conservation.
1.Panthera pardus pardus (African leopard)
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| African Leopard |
African leopard is a subspecies of leopard that is native to the African continent. Compared to other animals of the Felidae family, it has slightly stronger legs, a long serpentine tail with a white tip, a wide face, short ears, small, yellowish-brown eyes, light yellow or golden black spotted skin. African leopard's body length is 4 feet 2 inches to 4 feet 8 inches for a male and 2 feet 6 inches to 2 feet 10 inches for a female. It is a pure carnivore and mammal animal. They live alone. They are found only during breeding. After giving birth, the female leaves the child after raising it for some time. The leopard is thus searching for its new territory. Researchers call the area reserved for leopards their homeranges. Homeranges can be small or large depending on the availability of food and water. On an average, a leopard makes an area of 10 to 12 square kilometers in a home range.
The African leopard is known as a successful hunter because of its ability to make good use of hunting opportunities. The leopard is considered to be more adept at hunting than other animals due to its good adaptability to habitat, its ability to run at speeds of up to 60 km per hour, and its ability to easily carry prey with relatively large bodies. It feeds on any animal it can hold and hunt. At present it is mainly confined to sub-Saharan Africa but is found in small numbers in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Malaysia and China.
The African leopard is known as a successful hunter because of its ability to make good use of hunting opportunities. The leopard is considered to be more adept at hunting than other animals due to its good adaptability to habitat, its ability to run at speeds of up to 60 km per hour, and its ability to easily carry prey with relatively large bodies. It feeds on any animal it can hold and hunt. At present it is mainly confined to sub-Saharan Africa but is found in small numbers in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Malaysia and China.
2.Panthera unica (Snow leopard)
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| Snow Leopard |
Snow leopard's mouth is short and it's nostrils are large, making it easier to breathe in mountainous areas. Snow leopard has light gray long and thick eyebrows. It has black and yellow stripes all over its body and its chest is white. Its eyes are blue or green and its claws are large, making it easy for it to walk in the snow. Snow leopard has a long and flexible tail which helps to balance the body while walking on rocky terrain. It is a pure carnivore and mammal animal.
Snow leopards live in the rocky mountain range between 3,000 and 5,500 meters above sea level. Snow leopards are now estimated to number between 3,500 and 7,000 in the open wilderness and between 600 and 700 in the world's zoos. The snow leopard is found in the rugged Himalayan region of Central and South Asia, covering an area of about 1,230,300 square kilometers, including Nepal, China, India, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. There are many countries.
Snow leopards live in the rocky mountain range between 3,000 and 5,500 meters above sea level. Snow leopards are now estimated to number between 3,500 and 7,000 in the open wilderness and between 600 and 700 in the world's zoos. The snow leopard is found in the rugged Himalayan region of Central and South Asia, covering an area of about 1,230,300 square kilometers, including Nepal, China, India, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. There are many countries.
3.Neofelis nebulosa (Clouded leopard)
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| Camera trap picture of a wild Clouded leopard. |
This species spends more time on trees than on the ground. It can climb, jump and hang like a monkey on a tree. This species is active only at night. Its tail and body length are equal. They weigh up to 22 kg. They eat monkeys, deer, Kalij Pheasant, wild boar and other animals. Because it is able to jump from one tree to another like a monkey, it often preys on monkeys. Likewise, deer and deer are its favorite food. It has many longer teeth than its head, so some call it the modern cat with sword-like teeth.The leopard is considered to be the evolutionary link between the big cat and the small cat. Clouded leopards are found from the foothills of the Himalayas to mainland Southeast Asia and China.
4.Panthera pardus fusca (Indian leopard)
The Indian leopard is found in the Indian subcontinent. A 2014 survey indicated that there are approximately 12,000 to 1,000,000 leopards in the wild today. Indian leopards live in a variety of habitats within their range. Indian Leopards are good climbers and rely on trees for cover, so are found in various forested habitats, including rainforest, dry deciduous forest, temperate forest and northern coniferous forest. Some leopards in India have been recorded as man-eaters in the past and human-human conflict has been a major obstacle to leopard conservation to this day.The species Indian leopard is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because populations have declined following habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching for the illegal trade of skins and body parts, and persecution due to conflict situations.
5.Panthera pardus delacouri (Indochinese Leopard)
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| Indochinese leopard is waiting for prey. |
The Indochinese leopard is native to southern China and mainland Southeast Asia. The Indochinese leopard appears in a predominantly black form south of the Kra Isthmus and a predominantly spotted form north of the Isthmus. Indochinese leoparda are only about 400 to 1,000 breeding adults left in the wild. The main prey of Indochinese Leopard foremost Indian muntjac, followed by wild boar, long-tailed goral, dusky leaf monkey, Malayan porcupine, and Indian hog deer only in the hot season from February to April. Like most other wildlife in the region, the leopard faces threats due to habitat loss and poaching for illegal wildlife trade. The scarcity of tigers has led to the use of leopard body parts for the preparation of traditional Chinese medicines which has severely affected wild Indochinese leopard populations.
6. Panthera pardus melas (Javan Leopard)
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| Javan Leopard |
The most endangered Javanese leopard is found on the Indonesian island of Java. Leopards are either completely black due to a rancid phenotype or have a normal spot coat. It has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2008. The population is estimated at less than 250 mature individuals, with a decreasing population trend. The total remaining habitat is estimated at only 2,267.9 to 3,277.3 km2 (875.6 to 1,265.4 sq mi). The habit of Javan Leopard are Gunung Halimun National Park, Ujung Kulon National Park, Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, Ceremai National Park, Merbabu National Park, Merapi National Park, Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, Meru Betiri National Park, Ijen Mountain, Baluran National Park, and Alas Purwo National Park.Hunting instability, poaching, loss of habitat and conflict with humans have led to a sharp decline in the number of young leopards.
7.Panthera pardus japonensis(North-Chinese Leopard)
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| North-Chinese Leopard |
The northern Chinese leopard is a native of northern China. Its coat is darker and more orange in color. Rosettes are also darker and closer.The average weight in the wild is 50 kg (110 lb) for adult males and 32 kg (70 lb) for females. This sub-species pair conceives in January and February and two to three cubs are born after a gestation period of 105-110 days. They weigh about a pound at birth. After about 10 days, their eyes are opened. They live with their mother until they are about 20-24 months old. Leopards prey mainly on deer and wild boar but like any other leopard it will eat almost anything it can catch including birds, rodents and even insects.The habitat destruction and fragmentation, deforestation, Hunting, the killings due to conflict, a low prey base and poaching for wildlife trade, are major factors of its decline.
8.Panthera pardus kotiya (Sri Lankan Leopard)
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| Sri Lankan Leopard |
The Sri Lankan leopard is a native of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan leopard wears a toned or rusty yellow coat with pass-set rosettes and dark spots. Females of this subspecies weigh about 2 kg, and males weigh 56 kg. The prey is usually dispatched with a single bite to the throat. The Sri-lankan leopards main prey are small mammals, birds, reptiles as well as larger animals, Axis or spotted deer. The leopard also preys on sambar, barking deer, wild boar and monkeys.The habitat of Sri Lankan leopards is found in dry scrub forests, rainforests, highlands, and evergreen monsoon islands and Yala National Park and Sri Lanka's Wilpatu National Park are ideal places to see these leopards. Today, leopard survival is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, leopard poaching, and human-animal conflict.
9.Panthera pardus ciscaucasica (Persian Leopard)
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| Persian Leopard |
The Persian leopard is the largest subspecies of leopard and is native to the Caucasus region, where it covers Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Iran and western Afghanistan. Coats have a range of base colours from yellow to golden brown with paler fur under the chin and across the belly. They have black spots on the head, limbs and belly and spots arranged in rosettes across the back and flanks. Their spots give unique coat patterns which can be used to identify individuals.Persian leopards have stocky bodies with comparatively short legs; their total body length (including tail) can be up to 190cm and their weight up to 70kg. According to the IUCN, the Persian leopard is endangered. Its population is reported to be only 871 to 1290. The main reason for the extinction of the Persian leopard is poaching, poisoning, Housing developments, livestock farming and trapping.
10.Panthera pardus nimr (Arabian Leopard)
The Arabian leopard is a high-risk leopard subspecies native to the Arabian Peninsula. Arabian leopards have coats that vary in color from pale yellow to deep golden. The subspecies is critically endangered in the IUCN Red List. The sub-population is limited to less than 50 individuals. This leopard subspecies is the smallest subspecies of leopard. Arabian leopards main prey are Arabian gazelle, Nubian ibex, Cape hare, rock hyrax, porcupine, Ethiopian hedgehog, small rodents, birds, and insects. The geographical range of this subspecies is limited to the Arabian Peninsula and includes the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Within its range, Arabian leopards live in the hills and mountains.The extinction of the Arab leopards is due to habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, illegal hunting and trapping for illegal wildlife trade.
11.Panthera pardus orientalis (Amur Leopard)
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| Amur Leopard |
The Amur leopard is a critical subspecies of leopard. It is native to southeastern Russia and northeastern China. In 2019, only about 90 Amur leopards survive in the world. These animals differ from other leopard subspecies by their thick, spotted coat.The winter coat varies from fairly light yellow to dense yellowish-red with a golden tinge or rusty-reddish-yellow. In summer, the fur is brighter with more vivid coloration pattern. It is rather small in body size, with males larger than females. They live in cold weather. The main prey of leopards are Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) and Manchurian sika deer (Cervus nippon mantchuricus), Manchurian wapiti (Cervus canadensis xanthopygus), Siberian musk deer (Moschus moschiferus), Amur moose (Alces alces cameloides) and Ussuri wild boar (Sus scrofa ussuricus). Encroachment on human settlements, poaching, road construction in leopard settlements, forest fires, diseases, breeding and other factors endanger the Amur leopard population.
How to save leopards?
The Forest is the common property of all. Deforestation means endangering the leopard's existence. Leopards should be treated with respect and care and their habitat should be protected. To ensure the future existence of these wonderful gifts of nature, all countries must be establish national parks.
Leopards are endangered all over the world and, for their protection, various policies should be formulated to protect leopards and other exotic cats. Selling leopards as pets is illegal and diligent efforts should be made to improve the condition of zoo and circus leopards. These beautiful, solitary creatures deserve a chance to thrive in the wild. Let’s pass strong laws to end the illegal trade in leopard skins and other parts.
Leopards are endangered all over the world and, for their protection, various policies should be formulated to protect leopards and other exotic cats. Selling leopards as pets is illegal and diligent efforts should be made to improve the condition of zoo and circus leopards. These beautiful, solitary creatures deserve a chance to thrive in the wild. Let’s pass strong laws to end the illegal trade in leopard skins and other parts.
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