Leopard

Leopard

We are delighted that Petra, Torsten and Noah Janßen have become sponsors of the leopard. Congratulations!

With a total length of up to 2.20 metres and a maximum body weight of around 90 kg, the leopard(Panthera pardus) is the smallest of the four big cat species of its genus Panthera. Of all four actual big cat species, it has the largest distribution area. It extends from South Africa across the Arabian Peninsula to China and Russia.

Compared to the other big cats, the leopard has relatively short legs, a long body and a large head. Its fur is characterised by black curls, the so-called rosettes. These make the leopard look very similar to the South American jaguar. However, the leopard's rosettes are smaller and do not have a dot in the centre.

The leopard's most important habitats are savannahs and rainforests. However, it can also be found in dry semi-deserts and boreal coniferous forests, as it is very adaptable. The leopard's favourite prey are medium-sized mammals weighing between 10 and 50 kg. These mainly include gazelles, antelopes and deer. However, it is also capable of killing larger prey, such as buffalo, if necessary. Overall, however, the leopard is not very picky and also hunts birds, reptiles, fish and even insects.

The leopard's mating season is between November and February, depending on the area of origin. The females are only ready to mate for 5 to 13 days at a time. During this time, the females roam their territories and leave their scent and scratch marks everywhere to attract males. After mating, the leopard gestation period lasts 3 to 4 months. The usually 2 to 4 cubs are born protected in rock caves or shrub thickets. The mother looks after the young alone, which start to eat meat after about 2-3 months and then become independent after a further 10 months.

Due to habitat destruction and hunting for fur, the leopard is on the red list of the World Conservation Organisation (IUCN) as "endangered". In the Arabian Peninsula and the northern parts of Asia, only a few hundred specimens remain. In some areas, such as North Africa, the leopard has even been completely wiped out. Only in India and sub-Saharan Africa is the population still sufficiently large.
Our leopard is a male Asian leopard (subspecies: Panthera pardus melas) that died in 1988 at Wuppertal Zoo.