Far Eastern leopard, description, habitat and lifestyle, what it eats, interesting facts, photos, videos. All subspecies of the leopard What are the leopards

Leopard, Panther (Panthera Pardus) is a species of mammals from the cat family. The fourth largest cat in the world (after the tiger, lion and jaguar). Leopards live in Africa and Asia. These animals live mainly in dense, moist forests, preferring to stay close to water.

The leopard is an animal that is distinguished by its graceful and flexible body, long tail and paws with large claws. The leopard has a very beautiful spotted color, which makes it attractive. The main color of the coat is considered to be a red tint, which gradually turns into white, on the underside of the body, where the leopard has a stomach.

But among animals there are such breeds that are distinguished by increased pigment in the wool, then the animals are distinguished by their dark color, on which spots are practically not visible. Such leopards are called panthers. The wool of such animals is distinguished by its density and shortness. Their wool is very valuable and is used as a finishing material.

Panthers are much smaller and lighter than lions or tigers, allowing them to climb trees perfectly. They spend a lot of time there, sleeping and resting lounging in the branches. Often they drag prey into the trees when they hunt, so that hyenas and vultures do not interfere with them.

Leopard is the most mysterious cat

Leopards are the most mysterious of all the big cats. These animals are so careful and vigilant that even in reserves it is difficult to track their mode of life.

The color of the fur of these predators helps to hide in the foliage of trees, grass and makes leopards almost invisible. There are also black individuals.

The black color of panthers is a manifestation of melanism caused by a gene mutation and is characteristic only for females, with rare exceptions. The black coat is not perfectly black, it always shows visible spots to a greater or lesser extent.

Leopard and jaguar - comparison

The leopard is often confused with the jaguar. , unlike leopard cats is very muscular, although they are similar in appearance. In fact, the leopard has a stronger structure. He has longer and slender legs, thin chest. A jaguar can be distinguished from a leopard by the black spot in the center of the rosette on the skin. Leopards and jaguars in the wild live in different areas.

Leopard and jaguar - comparison.

A leopard, like a cat, leads a solitary lifestyle. Often, how the leopard moves is not even audible, as he does it on his soft paws. This animal loves to camouflage among the grass and trees to madness. And he does it well due to his spotted color. Leopards go hunting only at dusk, and sit in a shelter all day. But if the leopard sees prey in front of him, then he can go hunting in the daytime.

The leopard is the great hunter of the terrestrial fauna.

The diet of the leopard consists of ungulates, namely antelope, roe deer, gazelles and wild pigs. There are also areas where leopards feed on monkeys, reptiles and rodents. If they have nothing to eat, then they can attack birds, but this happens extremely rarely. Animals disdain carrion and eat it only in the most extreme cases.

The leopard lies in wait for prey in a shelter, stealthily creeps up to a close distance to it and pounces on it with large jumps.

Listen to the voice of the leopard

• Leopard and panther are the names of the same animal.
• Leopards are very strong. They can lift a victim heavier than themselves into the crown of a tree.
• Panthers descend from tree trunks upside down.
• Black panthers also have spots on their fur, but they are difficult to see.
• The favorite food of young leopards is baboons.
• Each individual has a unique motley pattern by which they can be recognized.
• The black panther is more aggressive than other leopards.
• Leopards can jump up to 7 meters.
• Different types of leopards can vary greatly in size and color.

The tree is the leopard's favorite resting place.

Leopard size:

• Body length from 100 to 150 cm (record 190 cm)
• Height from 60 to 80 cm
• Weight: 60-80 kg (for females) and 70-90 kg (for males)
• Tail length up to 110 cm
• Life expectancy in the wild is 12 years (record 17 years), in captivity 25 years.

Leopard breeding

"Wild cat" is resting on a tree.

Leopards breed regardless of the season, with the exception of animals that live in the north.

Pregnancy in a female lasts three months, usually she bears three babies. For her cubs, the female leopard chooses a secluded place, most often in dense thickets.

The cubs are born completely blind, but they grow very quickly and very soon they leave their lair for a walk on their own, in order to explore the world. Young children stay with their mother for up to a year and a half, at which time she brings them wounded animals and teaches them how to hunt.

Adult leopards have almost no enemies, as they are hidden from other animals. The main opponents of leopards are hyenas, lions, tigers and wolves. All these animals can attack young leopards and take their prey from them. But still, it is extremely difficult to take prey from leopards, as they hide it in the trees.

While hunting, a leopard can get hurt by a buffalo. But often, such situations occur either with young or inexperienced animals.

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Leopard(Panthera pardus), a feline mammal. Complete classification: subtype Vertebrates (Vertebrata), class Mammals, or Animals (Mammalia), subclass Real animals (Theria), order Predatory (Carnivora), family Cats (Felidae), subfamily Felines (Felinae), genus Big cats (Pantera). In our country it is known as a leopard.

A very beautiful cat with an elongated, flexible, slender and at the same time strong body (91-180 cm), rounded head, long tail (75-110 cm), slender, strong legs. Body weight is usually 32-40 kg, occasionally up to 100 kg.
The color is yellow, with one or another shade. On a yellow background with one or another shade (on the body, tail, legs), clearly defined solid and ring-shaped black spots are scattered. The fur of a leopard from tropical countries is thick, but not fluffy, very brightly colored. African leopards have small spots, Asian ones have larger ones. The color of the Central Asian is sandy-grayish, the Far Eastern is reddish-yellow. The fur of the Far Eastern animal in winter is fluffy, thicker, rather dull. Very bright, juicy tones in the coloration of leopards of dense tropical forests.

Leopards do not like water and rain: they hide if it rains. They bury their litter like cats. They know how to sleep on a tree, hiding in the branches. Excellent hearing and vision. The sense of smell is weak. They are born, but very rarely albino leopards and the so-called flavists: for these, as if nature did not have enough black paint - the spots are faded, ocher, chocolate at best. forest leopards the largest of its kind. And the smallest somali leopard.

The leopard lives on a vast territory that exceeds the range of any other member of the cat family. It inhabits most of Africa (except the Sahara), the southern half of Asia, Southeast Europe. Until recently, the leopard was found in the Caucasus, at present it occasionally appears only in Transcaucasia, sometimes in Central Asia, and more often in the southern part of Primorye.

The habitat of the leopard is dense tropical, subtropical and mixed forests of the Manchurian type, mountain slopes, plains, savannahs, thickets along the banks of rivers. It happens that a predator lives near settlements, keeps alone and hunts at night. The leopard climbs trees well, often settling there for daytime rest or in ambush, and sometimes even catches monkeys in trees or hides prey from other predators. However, the main place of hunting is the ground. Yielding in strength to a tiger or a lion, the leopard surpasses them in the ability to silently and deftly sneak up on the victim.

This is a very smart cat. A leopard can wallow in the sun for hours, pretending to be dead, writhing, moaning and pretending to be dying, thereby luring inexperienced curious deer or camels. If the leopard hunts from an ambush, then it makes a huge jump (the height of the jump can reach 5.5 m), falling on the victim’s back, bites on the scruff of the neck and knocks it to the ground. The main prey of leopards are small antelopes, deer, roe deer and other ungulates, but in difficult times it can prey on rodents, monkeys, birds, does not disdain reptiles and insects. Among the leopards there are also cannibals, in the audacity of attacks surpassing cannibal tigers. In India, one leopard killed 125 people in eight years. Another killed 400 people in 77 mountain villages and instilled fear in the locals at night until he was shot dead.

Leopards are usually nocturnal. They usually hunt alone. In the southern regions, leopards breed all year round. In the Far East, mating takes place in January. Like other cats, leopards arrange fights at this time, accompanied by a loud roar of males, although during normal times the leopard is silent. Pregnancy lasts 3 months, 1-3 cubs appear. They are born blind and helpless. But very soon they begin to see clearly and begin their first sorties for frogs and birdies. By the time they learn to hunt, their eyesight is so sharp that they can see prey 1.5 km away. Young leopards reach full growth and sexual maturity in two years, with females somewhat earlier than males.

In the Chitavan National Park in Nepal, a female tiger, accompanied by two six-month-old tiger cubs, and a female leopard, who gave birth to kittens after tagging, were radio-collared. Radio tracing of these two predators was carried out from December to April. Both females stayed in the same area of ​​the riverine forest with tall grass vegetation. The individual territory of a tigress was 9.3 km 2 , that of a female leopard was 8 km 2 . The areas completely overlapped, but the females avoided meetings, although the distance between them was sometimes from 100 to 500 m. These ecologically close predators avoided each other because the tigress kept to lands with dense woody vegetation, and the female leopard - more open spaces covered with forbs . At the same time, the tiger, except for the night, was active in the cooler morning hours, the leopard - in the early evening.

The number of the leopard is everywhere small, therefore it is included in the IUCN Red List. Recently, the leopard has been one of the favorite trophies of hunters because of the highly prized skin in the fur market.

Amur leopard(Pantera pardus orientalis) is found in the Far East; by 1973, its population was only 20-25 individuals permanently living there, and 18-21 entering from China and Korea. This subspecies is so rare that a rare zoo in the world is honored to have it in its collection. According to the latest data, only 30 individuals of the Amur ( Far Eastern) leopard. Since December 2002, a fundraising campaign has begun to carry out work to preserve this subspecies of leopards. A computer game will be released, playing which you can set the desired strategy for the survival of the Amur leopard. It is assumed that one of the winning strategies will be taken as the basis for the real restoration of the subspecies.

The harsh conditions of the region with cold snowy winters and a limited food base did not allow the Amur leopard to have a more or less significant number, and in recent decades, active human economic activity has steadily pushed it away from its original habitats and brought it to a very dangerous edge ... The remaining places The habitats of this elegant graceful cat are annually subjected to a largely destructive effect of forest fires, the breed is dying and the food base is undermined. The poaching shooting of not only the main food objects of leopards - roe deer, spotted deer, raccoon dog, badger, hare, but also the leopard itself has not been stopped. And it is not difficult to get it: almost any pack of dogs can drive not only a young, but also an adult animal into a tree, and when hungry, it goes to any bait and falls into traps. This is what poachers use.

The only reserve where the Far Eastern leopard breeds is "Kedrovaya Pad", but it is so small - about 18 thousand hectares, that it does not play a significant role in the preservation of this wonderful cat - only one male lives here permanently, and usually breeds no more than two females. Almost every year, the reserve “releases” from two to four young leopards outside its borders, but the surroundings of the reserve are so mastered by humans and unsuitable for animals that they are doomed to death from a poacher’s bullet or from starvation. The last refuge of a leopard in the Ussuri Territory was a small a region of southwestern Primorye with a length of about 200 kilometers from the Razdolnaya River to the Posyet Bay. But here, too, it lives only in a narrow, poorly developed mountainous zone of coniferous-deciduous and deciduous forests along the border with China.

Persian leopard(Pantera pardus ciscaucasica) has a population of no more than 10 individuals in the Caucasus (or maybe it does not exist at all), and in the Kopetdag - 10. The place of life of the Persian leopard is Armenia, Afghanistan and Iraq. Now about two thousand individuals live in the wild, in 72 zoos of the world - 174. In the summer of 2007, three Persian leopard kittens were born in the Budapest zoo: 2 females and a male.

Even in the last century, the Persian leopard could be found in all the mountainous regions of Turkmenistan, southern Uzbekistan, southwestern Tajikistan, as well as in Iran, Turkey and some regions of the Caucasus. At that time, the range of the leopard was several million hectares, now it has decreased to 600-800 thousand hectares. In some areas, the leopard has completely disappeared, in others its numbers are very low. Even in areas where the leopard still lives - in the Kopetdag mountains in Turkmenistan - it faces the problem of a lack of food resources - wild ungulates, which makes it hunt domestic animals and thus come into conflict with the local population.

Until 1940-1950, when the number of the leopard fell sharply, its population in the Western Kopetdag was relatively stable. By the beginning of the 1990s. the population has been greatly reduced following the decline in the populations of animals that serve as the main objects of its food - argali, bezoar goat and wild boar. There was a real threat of the population splitting into isolated groups and even its complete disappearance, as happened with the population of the Turanian tiger.

clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), contrary to its name, has nothing to do with true leopards. It is distinguished by significant morphological and ecological originality and occupies an intermediate position between small and large cats. The pupil of a clouded leopard is not round, like in big cats, but ovoid. In addition, the larynx is arranged like that of small cats. He is able to purr like small cats. Sometimes it is isolated in a separate genus (Neofelis).

The clouded leopard has a body length of 62-106 cm, a tail (60-90 cm) long. The mass of this predator is in the range of 16-30 kg, so it cannot be attributed to big cats, but it is the largest representative of medium-sized cats. It has an elongated, flexible body, short legs, with wide paws and hard bare calluses, convenient for climbing trees. Thick coat of grayish or yellowish color is decorated with an elegant pattern of wide and narrow marks in the form of circles, rosettes, ovals, the rear edges of which are outlined more distinctly than the front ones, which enhances the effect of coloring. Very beautiful black marble pattern on a bright yellow or yellow-gray background. The chest and belly are light or white with a few spots. Dark brown or black elongated spots on the neck and back. The tail is heavy, furry, painted with non-contiguous black rings. The eyes are yellow.

The skull of the clouded leopard is elongated, which distinguishes it from other cats. Its fangs are larger than those of other cats in proportion to body size. Sometimes it is referred to as modern "saber-toothed". It feeds on deer, cattle, goats, wild pigs, reptiles, birds, and monkeys. It can hunt both day and night, tracking its game on the ground or overtaking it in a jump from a tree.

The range of the clouded leopard is South Asia from Nepal, Sikkim, South China south to Sumatra and Kalimantan. Habitat - dense tropical forests, thickets of bushes, swamps. The clouded leopard spends most of its time in the trees. It hunts mainly at night more often for birds, but also attacks monkeys, pigs, sika deer, goats, porcupines. Sometimes it jumps on its prey from branches hanging above the ground, but often hunts right on the ground.

In total there are four varieties of smoky leopards. Their color varies from darkish yellow-brown (in the southern part of the range) to light yellow (such are found in southern China).

Pregnancy of females lasts 86-92 days. There are from 2 to 5 kittens in a litter. Cubs are born in hollows, they develop relatively slowly. Clouded leopard is a rare animal, it is listed in the IUCN Red List.

In 2007, a new clouded leopard species was identified in Sumatra and Borneo. The discovery was made by genetic scientists from the US National Cancer Institute (US National Cancer Institute) and a group of representatives of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). So far clouded leopards have been classified as belonging to a species found in mainland Southeast Asia. Scientists now believe the two species diverged over a million years ago and have evolved separately ever since.

clouded leopard(Felis nebulosa) of Borneo is the largest predator of the territory, it is similar in size to a small leopard. Its weight is about 20 kg, and the body length is 1.6-1.9 m, with the tail occupying almost half. The fact that the species separated was established by scientists at the National Cancer Institute in the United States using a DNA test, which showed about 40 differences between them. Another confirmation was obtained in the study of the characteristics of animal fur. Leopards from Borneo and Sumatra have small "clouds" with many distinct points in them, gray or dark fur, and double stripes along their backs.

The spots are separated from each other by thin stripes of bright brown (slightly reddish) wool. The spots of mainland leopards are large. In addition, the animal is much lighter in color, the main range of Asian leopard fur is brown-yellow. Their mainland counterparts have dark spots on their skins with smaller, often faintly distinguishable points, their fur is lighter and its color is more reddish-brown. According to WWF, there are between 5,000 and 11,000 leopards living on the island, and, in addition, there are 3,000 to 7,000 animals in Sumatra.

mountain leopard lives in the Alps. There are literally units of this subspecies in the world. On May 14, 2003, a short story was broadcast on television that one copy of the mountain alpine leopard was acquired by the Buenos Aires Zoo. For moments of the plot, it was possible to note a short body, thick, long, fluffy, spotted hair. This should be the case for animals living in harsh alpine conditions. I was struck by the extreme cuteness and meekness of the cat. A species of mountain leopard is found in the mountains of Africa.

In tropical countries, dark-colored leopards are sometimes found, which are called black panthers. If you look closely, you can see even darker spots on a black background. The fact that the panther and the black leopard are the same species, scientists have established quite recently. Black panthers are commonly found in Java. Black individuals can be born in the same brood with normally colored cubs.

The main victims of the leopard are roe deer, medium-sized antelopes, deer, wild boars, monkeys, and hares. The average prey weight is usually 25 - 50 kilograms, but the leopard is able to crush a horse, zebra, cow and even a gorilla. And with all this, he is not averse to eating locusts, voles or frogs. And you can imagine - it catches and regales itself with fish!

In Primorye, until the beginning of the 20th century, his favorite prey was sika deer and goral. Now these animals in the wild have become very rare, but there are many deer in fur farms. And the predator uses every opportunity to get into the park of the reindeer farm and take his soul on his favorite hunt. The leopard is a smart animal, he understands well how a visit to reindeer farms can end, and yet he goes for it.

The leopard has delicate hearing and sharp eyesight, and he sees well in seemingly impenetrable darkness. With its bright coloring, the supercat is perfectly camouflaged on the ground. In a rare clear forest, you can walk past a motionless animal lying a few meters away and not notice it. He invisibly sneaks even in the grass 30-40 centimeters high, as if pressing himself into the ground. Its coloring masks it especially well in autumn or in drought, when yellow and brown leaves and withered grass are everywhere.

Even an experienced and vigilant local hunter often cannot notice a leopard on a tree lying motionless in a fork or on a thick sunu - the beast merges so much with the general background of the tree bark, flickering in the sun's glare. Only the tail betrays the supercat: she forgets about him, and he hangs down, and when the beast is worried, the tip of the tail moves.

Like the tiger, the leopard has an irresistible hatred for jackals, wolves, dogs and a passion for their meat.

A large hungry leopard can eat a medium-sized prey in two days, and a well-fed leopard can eat it for almost a week. Uneaten hides in reserve. In Africa and South Asia, this beast, fearing jackals, hyenas and other lovers of preying on strangers, usually drags its prey onto a rock or into a fork in a large tree and settles here on its own.

But here's another mystery: the leopard finishes its large prey on the fourth or fifth day, when it is already fetid. He does not shun carrion, and if another predator tastes the prey during his absence, the leopard no longer touches it. Pride? Disgust? Unknown.

Leopard - a thunderstorm of monkeys. Monkeys, chimpanzees, and all monkey relatives are terribly afraid of not only a living predator, but even its stripped cords. What can you do: they are not always able to escape from his swift throws even in the trees. When the supercat walks through the forest, the monkeys, having climbed to the tops of the trees, raise an unimaginable hubbub. Baboons - large, bold and strong monkeys - are constantly wary of the leopard: the herd at the crossing keeps all-round defense, and the guards are vigilantly guarding it when feeding and resting.

Our distant ancestors also often died in the claws of a leopard. Maybe that's why this beast is not afraid of people now. Do not believe the often found in the scientific literature about the cowardice of the leopard. Cowardice and prudent caution are not the same thing and should not be confused. The leopard is precisely insanely bold and at the same time cautious. In pursuing prey, it sometimes comes close to settlements, however, it began to avoid meeting with modern man, without showing haste and nervousness. There were attacks of leopards on people, but almost all of them were caused by persecution i.e. attacks on a person were directed by the person himself: like the tiger, the leopard does not tolerate this, he is too proud and independent.

Throughout the range, the leopard is protected and listed in the international Red Book; the main threat to it is associated with a change in natural habitats and a reduction in the food supply. The trade in leopard skins, once a serious problem, has now faded into the background, and the main concern is the poaching of animals for the needs of oriental medicine. The survival of the species can only be guaranteed by large reserves.

The lion and the tiger are relatives of the leopard, but the closest of them in origin, appearance and lifestyle is the jaguar, which lives in South and Central America. He is almost the same color, with dark spots on a yellow background, only a little larger and a little stockier in build. And the habits are the same. In a word, a brother to a leopard and a supercat of the New World.

Lion, tiger, leopard and jaguar - all in the same genus panther. They are so close that they give each other hybrid crosses. And if the feline family deservedly wears the laurels of the most specialized predatory animals, then the four representatives of the panther genus are nothing but the elite of the feline family.

Yielding to a lion and a tiger in size, the leopard wins with agility and swiftness of movements. He perfectly climbs trees, rocks and feels no less free there than on the ground. His reaction is instant, the attacks are lightning fast, he does not know fear. And it is not for nothing that many scientists and famous hunters consider the leopard to be the most perfect of cats - a supercat.

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Leopard, or leopard, or panther (Panthera pardus)- species of large carnivores (Felidae) with a wide distribution range in sub-Saharan Africa, Western Asia, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, and Siberia.

Description

The body size and coat color of leopards depends on the geographic location of the habitat and reflects adaptation to a particular habitat. Leopards have short legs relative to their long torso. The head is broad, and the massive skull allows for powerful jaw muscles. They have small round ears, long vibrissae on the eyebrows, which protect the eyes while moving through dense vegetation. The coat color ranges from light yellow in warm and dry habitats to reddish orange in dense forests. Subspecies differ in the unique features of the coat. Their body is covered in black "rosettes" which are round in East Africa and square in South Africa.

Leopards have solid black spots on the chest, legs and muzzle, and ring spots on the tail. The cubs have a smoky gray coat color and their “rosettes” do not differ. Each individual has a unique coat pattern that is used for identification. Black panthers, which densely inhabit rainforests, are leopards with recessive melanistic genes. Savannah and forest leopards tend to be larger, while mountain and desert leopards tend to be smaller. Sexual dimorphism is expressed by the larger size of males than females. Females have a body weight of 17 to 58 kg and a length of 1.7 to 1.9 m. The weight of males is from 31 to 65 kg and a body length of 1.6 to 2.3 m.

Habitat

Leopards live in various areas. The most densely populated areas are meso-forests, grasslands and savannahs. They also live in mountains, bushlands and deserts. Leopards have a preference for trees and have been recorded at 5,638 meters (Mount Kilimanjaro).

area

There are nine subspecies, which are distributed as follows:

1. african leopard (Panthera pardus pardus)– Africa;
(Panthera pardus delacourii)– Southeast Asia, south of China; (Panthera pardus melas)- the island of Java (Panthera pardus fusca)– Indian subcontinent; (Panthera pardus nimr)– Arabia;
2. – The Russian Far East, the Korean Peninsula and Northeast China.
(Panthera pardus japonensis)- north of China; (Panthera pardus kotiya)- Sri Lanka; (Panthera pardus saxicolor)- Central Asia;

Males occupy a territory of approximately 12 km², and females - 4 km². As with other mammal species, the ranges of males are larger than those of females and tend to overlap with several females.

reproduction

Leopards are promiscuous, as females and males have multiple partners. Females attract potential partners with pheromones released in their urine. They seem to initiate mating by walking back and forth in front of the male or flapping his tail. The male then climbs onto the female, often biting the back of her head. Mating lasts an average of three seconds, with a six-minute interval between each copulation. One pair can mate up to 100 times a day for several days. Breeding occurs throughout the year, with a peak during the rainy season in May. In China and southern Siberia, leopards mostly breed in January and February. The estrus period in the female lasts 7 days, and the cycle is 46 days. Pregnancy lasts 96 days, females give birth every 15-24 months. As a rule, they stop breeding at the age of about 8-9 years.

Babies weigh less than 1 kg at birth and their eyes remain closed for the first week. Mothers leave their offspring for 36 hours while hunting in well protected areas. Kittens learn to walk at 2 weeks of age and regularly leave the den at 6-8 weeks of age, at which time they start eating solid food. Mothers share with the cubs a third of the prey. Breastfeeding ends at 3 months of age and full independence occurs at 20 months. Often, siblings stay in contact during the first years of independence.

Lifespan

In captivity, the life expectancy of leopards is from 21 to 23 years (the record holder lived for 27 years). leopards live 10-12 years (the record holder lived 17 years). Survival among pups is 41-50%.

Behavior

Leopards are solitary, nocturnal predators. They mark their territory with urine, feces and claws. They communicate with their relatives by growling, roaring, expectorating in a tense situation, and purring while eating. Leopards also cough hoarsely to alert their congeners to their presence. They feel great in the lower canopy of the forest, where they often feed, as well as in the water. During the hunt, leopards move slowly, slightly pressed to the ground. These animals can reach speeds of up to 60 km / h, jump to a height of 3 m and a length of more than 6 m. Leopards do not need constant access to water, since they get most of their water needs from the prey they eat. They have good eyesight and hearing, making them dangerous opponents in dense forests.

Nutrition

Leopards ambush, then pounce on their prey before it has a chance to react. They sneak, crouching to the ground, and approach their potential prey at 3-10 meters. After the attack, the leopard bites into the neck of the victim, thereby causing paralysis. Then they strangle her and carry her to a secluded place, usually to a nearby tree. They also cover the carcass of their prey with leaves and earth. The enormous strength allows leopards to hunt prey up to 10 times their own weight.

Typically, leopards prey on medium-sized ungulates, which include small antelopes, gazelles, deer, wild boars, primates, and livestock. They are opportunistic predators and feed on birds, reptiles, rodents, arthropods, and carrion when available. Leopards prefer prey that weighs between 10 and 40 kg. These cats can eat up cheetahs, hyenas and other small predators. Also, they can continue hunting despite the preserved half-eaten carcasses.

Threats

Man is the main threat to the life of the leopard. The fur of the animal is valuable. Lions, tigers, spotted hyenas, and African wild dogs prey on leopard cubs and are capable of killing adults. There are also clashes between adult leopards associated with territorial confrontation. Many of the features that make leopards formidable predators also act as their defense mechanisms. For example, the spots on the coat serve as camouflage and allow leopards to travel unnoticed and avoid detection.

Role in the ecosystem

positive

Leopards can be found in national parks throughout Asia and Africa. They help control the baboon population and reduce the amount of seeds that stick to their fur. Chiefs and warriors from tribal cultures throughout the geographic distribution of leopards wore their fur as a symbol of honor and courage. Leopards were often killed as a trophy or captured for the animal trade.

negative

When leopards lose geographic habitat, there are cases of attacks on livestock. Injured leopards may attack humans as easy prey.

conservation status

Leopard numbers are declining in some regions due to habitat loss and fragmentation. As a result, their conservation status is defined as "close to vulnerable". Leopards appear to show resistance to minor disturbance to their habitat and are relatively tolerant of humans. Currently, leopards are protected in most of their range in western Asia; however, the leopard population in this region is too small to support its growth. Although reserve habitats and national parks exist throughout their range in Africa, most leopards prefer to stay outside of these protected areas. Despite the fact that leopards are the most common of the "big cats", 5 out of 9 subspecies are listed in the Red Book or endangered.

Subspecies

african leopard

African leopards have a large variation in coat color, depending on their habitat. It can be from pale yellow to dark brown or gold, and sometimes black, and with a pattern of black rosettes. Males are larger, averaging about 60 kg (maximum recorded weight 91 kg). Females weigh on average 35-40 kg.

The leopards that inhabit the mountains of the Cape are different from the leopards that live far to the north. Their average weight may be only half that of their more northern relative.

African leopards live in large numbers in the south of the Sahara, while also occupying arid deserts. Their stay was noted in places with an annual rainfall of more than 50 mm. They live at altitudes up to 5700 m, have been seen on the high slopes of the Virunga and Rwenzori volcanoes, and it has also been noted that leopards drank thermal water of 37⁰ C in the Virunga National Park.

They successfully adapt to changing natural habitats and populate places far from persecution. Many cases of their presence near large cities have been recorded. But already in the 1980s, they became rare in much of West Africa. Currently, African leopards are unevenly distributed within their range.

In North Africa, a tiny population of the relic Barbarian leopard, a subspecies of the African leopard, survives in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.

African leopards live in a variety of terrain, from mountain forests to grasslands and savannahs, with the exception of only sandy deserts. They are most at risk in semi-desert areas where limited resources bring them into conflict with nomadic farmers and livestock.

The main threats to the African leopard population are habitat change and intense persecution, especially in retaliation for the loss of livestock.

The impact of trophy hunting on West African leopards remains unclear, but may have an impact on demographics, especially when females are attacked. In Tanzania, only males are allowed to be hunted, but females account for 28.6% of the 77 trophies killed between 1995 and 1998. Killing a large number of males can have a negative impact on the leopard population. Although males do not raise offspring, their presence reduces the risk of infanticide by other males.

With human settlements approaching and the attendant pressure of human poaching, leopards feed on smaller prey.

The African leopard is protected under CITES, Appendix III.

The Indochinese leopard is a subspecies of the leopard and native to mainland Southeast Asia and southern China. In Indochina, leopards are rarely found outside protected areas as they may be endangered by habitat loss (deforestation) as well as poaching and subsequent illegal trade.

The Indochinese leopard lives in Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and South China.

Populations of Myanmar's Indochinese leopard between 1940-1980 declined so rapidly that in 2000 it was close to extinction.

In the 1990s, studies were carried out within the protected areas of Thailand:

• Three Indochinese leopards were equipped with special radio collars in the south-central Kaeng Krachan National Park, which is dominated by rolling hills with seasonal evergreen forests. The study showed that the habitat range of males varies between 14.6-18.0 km², and females - an average of 8.8 km². All leopards preferred places with a greater choice of potential prey at lower altitudes (500-600 m). Males increased their range slightly during the rainy season from June to October.
• Between 1994 and 1999, ten leopards were fitted with radio collars in the northwestern part of the Huaikhakheng Wildlife Sanctuary. Analysis of the data obtained showed that the range of adult males was 15.2-64.6 km². Six adult females had the largest recorded ranges, which ranged from 17.8-34.2 km², and increased during the dry season from November to April. All leopards preferred dry evergreen and mixed deciduous forests with a gentle slope near water bodies.

Human presence within protected areas has a negative impact on the movement and activities of leopards. They show less activity in areas where human influence is prominent. In villages located in the protected areas of Laos, the consumption of venison and wild pork is estimated at approximately 28.2 kg per year per family, with a total average of 2840 kg of ungulates per 100 km², which is equivalent to the meat needed to keep leopards alive. territory of 100 km².

In the highly fragmented rainforest, due to the Malaysian agglomeration, the population density of the Indochinese leopard was 28.35 individuals per 100 km², which is one of the most famous densely populated areas. Leopards are dependent on human activities in the forests.

There are significant domestic markets for leather products and traditional medicines in Myanmar, Malaysia. In China, leopard bones are used as substitutes for tiger bones in traditional Chinese medicine. In Myanmar, 215 body parts from at least 177 leopards were found in four markets surveyed between 1991 and 2006, including a leopard's penis and testicles, which were openly sold, along with other parts of freshly slaughtered animals. Three of the markets surveyed, located on the international borders of China and Thailand, cater to the needs of international buyers, although leopards are fully protected under Myanmar's national law. The UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is not enough to protect leopards.

The Javan leopard is a subspecies of leopard whose range is limited to the Indonesian island of Java and is classified as endangered. Since 2008, its population has been estimated at less than 250 adults, with a declining population trend.

Javan leopards can be found in Gunung Halimun, Ujung Kulon, Gunung Gede Pangrano, Charem, Merbabu, Merapi, Bromo Tengger Semeru, Meru Betiri, Baluran and Alas Purvo national parks. They can inhabit a variety of habitats, from dense rainforests in the southwestern part of the island to mountains, from dry deciduous forests to scrublands in the east.

From 2001 to 2004, a study was carried out in the Gunung Halimun Park in an area of ​​20 km². Camera traps and radio tracking were used. Seven leopards were found in the study area. The total number ranged from 42 to 58 individuals. The main range of the adult female was 9.82 km².

Javan leopards are threatened by habitat loss, prey base depletion and poaching through population growth and agricultural expansion. Conflict between locals and leopards is also considered a major threat. Java Island has lost over 90% of its natural vegetation and is one of the most densely populated islands in the world. Primary forests remain only in mountainous areas above 1400 m.

The island is inhabited by 118.3 million people, 59% of the total population of Indonesia, in an area of ​​2286 km². The population density of this island far exceeds that of most other island nations.

The Javan leopard is protected under CITES, Appendix I.

Efforts to restore the Javan leopard population are aimed at protecting against extinction. Hunting laws are strictly observed here. In 2005, Gunung Halimun National Park was expanded to three times its original size to restore populations of the Javan leopard, Javan gibbon, and Javan hawk-eagle.

To address the issue of overpopulation on the island and encroachment on the habitat of protected species, the Indonesian government is forming a nationwide family planning program. This program makes contraceptives, such as condoms and various birth control pills, more accessible to the public.

In 1997, there were 14 Javan leopards in European zoos. Breeding of the Javan leopard as part of breeding programs in America and Europe was not successful. Since 2007, there have been 17 Javan leopards in the Taman Safari Zoo in Indonesia, including 7 males and 10 females. The Indonesian zoos Ragunan and Surabaya also keep Javan leopards.

In 2011, two males and one female were recorded at the Berlin-Friedrichsfeld Zoo in Germany, and one male and one female at the Jakarta Zoo.

In 2013, one male Javan leopard was transferred from Friedrichsfelde Zoo to Prague Zoo.

The Indian leopard is widespread throughout the Indian subcontinent. Since 2008, this subspecies has been classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN due to habitat loss, fragmentation, poaching for the illegal trade in skins and body parts, and conflict related persecution.

Indian leopards are one of the five big cats found in India, except for , and clouded leopard.

In 1794, Friedrich Albrecht Anton Mayer first described the Indian leopard as a Bengal cat, whose body length is 85.5 cm. It has strong legs and a long, well-developed tail. Its head is large, like that of a panther, its muzzle is broad, its ears are short, its eyes are small, yellowish gray, and its eye bulbs are light gray. The color of the coat is black at first glance, but on closer inspection it is dark brown with round dark colored spots, a pale red tint is visible below.

Male Indian leopards grow in length from 127 to 142 cm, the length of the tail reaches 76-91 cm, and the weight is 50-77 kg. Females grow much smaller: body length - 104-117 cm, tail length - 76-88 cm, weight 29-34 kg.

On the Indian subcontinent, the topographic barrier to this subspecies is the Indus River to the west and the Himalayas to the north. In the east, the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra River and the Ganges Delta act as natural barriers that mark the boundaries of the distribution of the Indian leopard population. The subspecies can be found throughout India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and parts of Pakistan. In the Himalayas, they are sympatric with snow leopards at an altitude of up to 5200 meters above sea level. Indian leopards inhabit rainforests, dry deciduous forests, and northern coniferous forests, but are not found in the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans.

In the Bardiya National Park in Nepal, the range of males was about 48 km2 and females 17 km2. While looking after offspring, the range of females is reduced to 5-7 km2.

Indian leopards do not live in areas where there is a high density of tigers. They can coexist with Asian black bears, sloths, wolves, Indian striped hyenas, and wild dogs.

The hunting of Indian leopards for further illegal trade is a big threat to the population of these animals. Trade in skins and other body parts is carried out between India, Nepal and China. The governments of these countries have failed to implement adequate animal protection and have not had high priorities in terms of political commitment and investment over the years. There are well-organized groups of professional poachers who move from one place to another and set up camps in vulnerable areas. The skins are roughly removed and handed over to merchants, who send them for further processing to special centers. Buyers select the skins and transport them through multi-level chain markets outside of India, most often to China.

Analysis of the markets in different years showed that:

• between 1994 and October 2010, over 2,845 individuals were killed in India;
• between May 2002 and May 2008, 243 individuals were killed in Nepal;
• between July 1999 and September 2005, more than 774 individuals were killed in China and Tibet.

No less important threats are habitat loss, fragmentation, and man-leopard conflict. The expansion of agriculture is a major factor contributing to habitat loss and declining prey. As a result, leopards come close to settlements where they are forced to hunt livestock. In recent years, conflict situations between man and leopard have increased.

The Indian leopard is under the protection of CITES, Appendix I.

Despite the CITES convention, India and Nepal have not included the protection of the Indian leopard in the national legislation of both countries. There is a lack of trained human resources and effective means to combat poaching and the wildlife trade.

Frederick Walter Champion was one of the first in India to advocate for the conservation of leopards after World War II, condemning sport hunting and recognizing their key role in the ecosystem. Billy Aryan Singh has campaigned for the protection of Indian leopards since the early 1970s.

The homeland of the South Arabian leopard is the Arabian Peninsula. The subspecies is critically endangered according to the IUCN. In 2006, the South Arabian leopard population was estimated to be less than 250 adults. The leopard population tends to rapidly decrease.

The South Arabian leopard is considered one of the smallest subspecies of the leopard. This was confirmed through genetic analysis of a captive leopard from Israel of South Arabian origin, which is most closely related to the African leopard.

The shade of the coat varies from pale yellow to deep golden or tawny with patterned rosettes. Adult males reach a weight of about 30 kg, and females - 20 kg. The South Arabian leopard is much smaller than the African leopard and other Asian subspecies.

The range of the subspecies is poorly understood, but is generally limited to the Arabian Peninsula, including the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. They live in mountainous uplands and rolling steppes, but rarely move across open plains, deserts, or coastal lowlands.

In the 1970s, there were only 20 South Arabian leopards in the Negev Desert in Israel. By 2002, fewer than 10 individuals remained in the Judean Desert and the Negev Mountains.

The last confirmed sighting of the South Arabian leopard dates back to 1987.

In the United Arab Emirates, leopards are considered extinct.

Until the late 1960s, leopards were widespread in the mountains along the shores of the Red and Arabian Seas. In Saudi Arabia, leopard habitat is estimated to have declined by about 90% since the early 19th century. Of 19 reports received by whistle-blowers between 1998 and 2003, only four described the presence of leopards at one location in the Hijas Mountains and three locations in the Asir Mountains. Although leopards are protected by law in this country, the remaining range of habitat does not cover protected areas.

In Oman, leopards were found in the Hajar Mountains until the late 1970s. The largest confirmed population inhabits the Dhofar Mountains in the southeast of the country. In the Jebel Samhan Game Reserve, between 1997 and 2000, 17 solitary adult leopards were observed using a camera trap. The area occupied by males is estimated at 350 km2, and by females - 250 km2. Dhofar is considered the best habitat for South Arabian leopards in the country. This rugged terrain provides shelter, shade and water, and a wide range of prey, particularly in ledges and narrow depressions.

In Yemen, leopards were previously found in all mountainous areas of the country, including the western and southern highlands eastward towards the border with Oman. Since the early 1990s, leopards have been considered rare and on the verge of extinction due to persecution by local residents and a decrease in the number of wild animals.

South Arabian leopards are predominantly nocturnal, but sometimes they are also found in the daytime. They have been observed to focus on small to medium sized animals, and tend to store the carcasses of large prey in caves or dens, but not in trees.

South Arabian leopards are threatened by habitat loss, illegal poaching and retaliatory killing in defense of livestock.

The South Arabian leopard is protected under CITES, Appendix I.

A detailed study of the distribution of the leopard in the wild and the habitat conditions necessary for its life are needed to manage the subspecies. Ecological information includes data on feeding habits, habitat and reproduction. This information is of great importance for the conservation of the South Arabian leopard.

A successful strategy should help maintain awareness of the importance of leopard conservation through the media and possibly other sources of mainstream education. The support and participation of people living near leopard habitats is vital. Only with the complex interaction of the components of the program for the conservation of the leopard population will the subspecies of the South Arabian leopard be preserved.

The Far Eastern leopard is native to Primorsky Krai in southeastern Russia and the province of Jilin in northeastern China. Since 1996 it has been classified as critically endangered. In 2007, there were only 19-26 surviving Amur leopards in the wild. The censuses released in February 2015 show an increase in the leopard population. So, in Russia there are at least 57 individuals, and in areas adjacent to China - 12 leopards.

The northern Chinese leopard is native to northern China. Demographics for the northern Chinese leopard in the wild are not known.

Northern Chinese leopards are similar in size to Far Eastern leopards, however, their coat is darker, almost orange in color. The outlets are also darker, smaller and closer together. Spots are located in the rosettes - this feature is more common in jaguars, not leopards. Northern Chinese leopards are also distinguished from other subspecies by their elongated fur. The average weight of a male in the wild is 50 kg, and that of a female is 32 kg.

Historical records from 1930 show that North China leopards lived near Beijing and in the mountains to the northwest. They may have reached the south of the Ussuri region. Today, only small and isolated populations remain.

Northern Chinese leopards breed in January and February, and after 105-110 days of pregnancy, 2 or 3 cubs are born. Babies weigh about 500 g and open their eyes when they reach the age of about 10 days. The female becomes a mother at 20-24 months.

Northern Chinese leopards are solitary animals, except for breeding and caring for offspring. Adult females and males tend to guard the territory.

About 100 North Chinese leopards are in zoos around the world. One male, known as Cheung Chi, was responsible for breeding over 15 leopards until 1988. Now he has more than 40 descendants, which leads to problems with maintaining genetic diversity. Thanks to the European Program for the Protection of Threatened Species, more than 60 individuals are preserved.

The Ceylon leopard is a native of Sri Lanka. The subspecies is in danger according to the IUCN. It is associated with numerous threats, including poaching and conflicts with humans. The number of subspecies does not exceed 250 individuals.

The subspecies was first described in 1956 by the Sri Lankan zoologist Deraniyagala.

The Ceylon leopard has a red or rusty yellow coat with closely spaced rosettes that are smaller than those of Indian leopards. Seven females measured at the beginning of the 20th century had an average weight of 29 kg, a body length of 1.04 m, a tail length of 77.5 cm. 11 male Ceylon leopards averaged 56 kg, and a body length of 1.27 m, tail length - 86 cm. The largest male had a body length of 1.42 m, a tail 97 cm long and a weight of 77 kg.

The Ceylon leopard has historically been found in all locations throughout the island.

From 2001 to 2002, the density of adults was estimated at 17.9 individuals per 100 km2.

Research done in Yala National Park shows that Ceylon leopards are no more socialized than other leopard subspecies. They are solitary hunters, except for females with their offspring. Both sexes live in areas that overlap. Males occupy large areas and may overlap with several females and some other males. Leopards of this subspecies are nocturnal but are also active at dawn, dusk and during the daytime. They rarely drag their prey up trees. Most likely, this is due to low competition and relative to the allowable number of prey. Because leopards are at the top of the food chain, they don't need to protect their prey.

The Ceylon leopard is the country's leading predator. Like most cats, it is a pragmatic animal in its choice of diet, feeding on small mammals, birds, reptiles, as well as larger animals.

The hunting of the leopard of this subspecies is similar to the hunting of its relatives. He silently pursues his prey until it is within reach, then accelerates and attacks the victim. Prey, as a rule, loses its life after one bite to the neck.

Ceylon leopards are not believed to have peak seasons for mating or calving. The number of cubs from one female is usually 2 individuals.

The survival of the Ceylon leopard is threatened by poaching and the human-leopard conflict. Further research on the Ceylon leopard population is needed to conserve the subspecies. The Wildernessand Wildlife Conservation Trust (WWCT) leopard conservation project works closely with the Sri Lankan government to ensure it is enforced. The Wildlife Conservation Society also conducts a number of studies. WWCT's work is focused on the central region, where hilly habitat fragmentation is leading to a decline in animal numbers.

As of December 2001, 75 Ceylon leopards are in captivity in zoos around the world. Thanks to the European Program for the Protection of Endangered Animals, 27 males, 29 females and 8 unidentified Ceylon leopards have survived.

The Cerza Zoo, France, is engaged in the breeding program of Ceylon leopards.

The Persian leopard or Caucasian leopard is the largest subspecies of the leopard, native to northern Iran, eastern Turkey, the Caucasus Mountains, southern Turkmenistan, and parts of western Afghanistan. The subspecies is endangered throughout its range. Approximately 871-1290 adults remain, with a declining population trend. Perhaps leopards are also found in northern Iraq.

Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the Persian leopard belongs to a monophyletic group that spread from the Asian leopard group in the second half of the Pleistocene.

The Persian leopard has a weight of up to 90 kg and a light coat color. The average body length was 158 cm, the tail was 94 cm, and the skull was 192 mm.

Biometric data obtained from 25 individuals in various provinces of Iran showed an average length of 259 cm. A young male from northern Iran weighed 64 kg.

Leopards, most likely, spread throughout the Caucasus, with the exception of the steppe regions. Studies conducted from 2001 to 2005 confirmed the absence of Persian leopards in the western part of the Greater Caucasus and their presence only in some regions of the eastern part. The largest populations survived in Iran. Political and social changes in the former Soviet Union in 1992 caused a severe economic crisis and weakened previously effective protection systems. The ranges of all wild animals were highly fragmented. The population of antecedent leopards has declined tremendously as leopards have been heavily persecuted.

In 2008, there were approximately 871-1290 individuals, of which:

• 550-850 live in Iran, which is a stronghold for the leopard of Western Asia;
• about 200-300 in Afghanistan, where their status is not well known;
• about 78-90 in Turkmenistan;
• less than 10-13 in Armenia;
• less than 10-13 in Azerbaijan;
• less than 10 in Russia's North Caucasus;
• less than 5 in Turkey;
• less than 5 in Georgia;
• 3-4 in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Persian leopards avoid desert regions, areas with long-term snow cover and areas that are close to cities. Their habitat provides for the presence of subalpine meadows, deciduous forests and rocky ravines with a depth of 600-3800 m in the Greater Caucasus, as well as rocky slopes, mountain steppes and rare juniper forests of the Lesser Caucasus and Iran. Only some small and isolated populations remain in the whole ecoregion. In each country, the habitat range is located in remote border areas.

Leopards are widespread in Iran, but most of them are concentrated in the north of the country. They live in 78 protected and unprotected areas, of which 69% are located in Northern Iran. Persian leopards are found in Elbrus and in the Zagros mountain ranges and in all the northwestern regions that cross these mountain ranges. The Hyrcanian forests, located in the north and along the Alborz mountain range, are considered one of the most important habitats for the Persian leopard. Their habitat provides for ambient temperatures from -23 to +49 degrees Celsius, but are most often found in places with temperatures from 13 to 18 degrees, where there is ice cover from 0 to 20 days a year and rainfall of more than 200 mm per year.

The Central Alborz protected area has an area of ​​more than 3500 km2 and is one of the largest reserves where leopards roam. In the Sarigol National Park in northeastern Iran, four families of Persian leopards with two cubs have been discovered through research.

In the Bamu National Park, surveillance cameras recorded 7 individuals in an area of ​​321.12 km2.

In Armenia

In Armenia, humans and leopards coexisted from the beginning of prehistoric times. By the middle of the 20th century, leopards were relatively common in the mountains of the country. Today, the strong and rocky relief of the Khosrov Reserve acts as a defense. There were known cases of Persian leopards living on the Meghri Range in the extreme south of Armenia.

in Azerbaijan

Leopards live in the Talysh mountains far to the southeast. They are also found in the Ismayilli Reserve in the northwest of Azerbaijan in the foothills of the Greater Caucasus, but at present the number of Persian leopards is negligible.

Despite separate studies, the existence of Persian leopards in the late 1990s in Azerbaijan was not confirmed until a representative of the Persian subspecies was discovered using camera traps in March 2007 in the Hirkan National Park.

In September 2012, the presence of Persian leopards was recorded in the Zangezur National Park. In May 2013, camera traps recorded the territorial behavior of one female. This prompted the Ministry of Ecology and Azerbaijan to propose an increase in the leopard population in the country.

Thanks to taxidermy, a stuffed Persian leopard has been preserved in the Georgian National Museum, Tbilisi. Since 1954, leopards have been considered extinct in Georgia due to poaching. In the winter of 2003, zoologists discovered leopard tracks in the Vashlovani nature reserve in southeastern Georgia. Leopards have also been found in two places in Tusheti, in the upper reaches of the Andiyskoye Koysu and Assa rivers bordering Dagestan.

Over the past 60 years, observations of leopards have been made throughout the Tbilisi region and in the province of Shida Kartli northwest of the capital. Leopards mostly inhabit dense forests, although some were seen in the low-lying plains in the southeastern region of Kakheti in 2004.

The Anatolian leopard (Panthera Pardus tulliana) was proposed in the 19th century as a distinct subspecies found in southwestern Turkey. There is no reliable information about surviving individuals in this area. The Anatolian leopard currently belongs to the Persian subspecies of the leopard.

The photo from the first camera trap in Turkey was taken in September 2013 in the province of Trabzon. In November 2013, the last leopard was killed in Chinar district, Diyarbakir province.

In the North Caucasus

In the North Caucasus, signs of the presence of the leopard have been found in the upper reaches of the Andi and Avar Koisu rivers in Dagestan.

In Ignushetia, Chechnya and Ossetia, local residents have reported the presence of leopards. Obviously, they are absent in the Western Caucasus. In April 2001, on the border with Kabardino-Balkaria, an adult female was shot, her two cubs were captured and taken to the Novosibirsk Zoo in Russia.

Persian leopards are endangered due to poaching, human interference such as the presence of the military, troop training in border areas, habitat loss due to deforestation, fires, agricultural expansion, overgrazing and infrastructure development.

In Iran, the primary threats are habitat disturbance followed by illegal hunting and excess livestock in leopard habitats. The chances of leopards surviving outside protected areas are very low. An estimate of mortality in Iran found that 70% of Persian leopards between 2007 and 2011 died due to illegal poaching or poisoning, and 18% due to traffic accidents.

In the 1980s, anti-personnel mines were placed along the Iran-Iraq border to keep people out. Persian leopards lived in this zone and were safe from poachers and industrial development, but at least two individuals were blown up by mines and died.

The Persian leopard is under the protection of CITES, Appendix I.

As of December 2011, thanks to the European Program for the Protection of Endangered Animals, 112 animals were in captivity in zoos around the world, including 48 males, 50 females and 5 neutered animals less than 12 months old.

Recent studies have shown that these individuals are the descendants of nine leopards captured from the countries of the Persian range some time ago.

Tigers and jaguars belong to a kind of "elite" of the cat family - to the genus of panthers. These small, but graceful and strong cats are easily recognizable by their beautiful spotted skin, but you can’t call it the main distinguishing feature. It turns out that the black panther is still the same leopard, but with slight mutations in color. In addition, cheetahs can boast of a spotted fur coat. Leopards also have a habit of dragging their prey up trees and do it with extraordinary ease.

Among leopards, 9 subspecies are distinguished, which differ from each other in the color of the main background and the location of the spots.

The habitat of leopards is so vast that it is second in area only to the habitat of a domestic cat. Previously, these animals could be found on a vast territory, including almost the entire African continent, except for the Sahara desert (African leopard), Western Asia and Transcaucasia (Persian and Arabian leopards), India (Indochinese and Indian leopards), China (Northern Chinese and Far Eastern leopards) , Indonesia, Pakistan (Indian leopard), Java Islands (Javanese leopard), Zanzibar and Sri Lanka (Ceylon leopard). Now these numerous areas have decreased by almost 2 times.

Habitat of leopards

Depending on the species and continent, these cats prefer different habitats. So, the African leopard is found both in the wild jungle and in semi-deserts and savannahs. He avoids dry areas. The Asian and Far Eastern subspecies prefer various forests in highlands and plains.

Leopards are smaller than lions and tigers. The body length without a tail is from 90 to 190 cm, with a tail - all 150 - 300 cm. The height of males at the withers reaches 50-78 cm. The weight of males does not exceed 75 kg.

These large cats have a more elongated and slender body, which makes their gait seem light and even a little airy. Females are distinguished from males only by their smaller body size and the structure of the skull.

Leopards are famous all over the world for their spotted color. So, on a general light yellow or red background, hundreds of dark spots of various shapes and sizes are scattered almost throughout the body. The location of the spots can be solid or in the form of ring figures. The basic background of each subspecies is slightly different. This coloring serves as an excellent camouflage for predators during the hunt.

Thick coat may vary slightly depending on the time of year. In the Far Eastern leopard, in winter it becomes a little longer - up to 5 cm and paler, and in summer - shorter, about 2-2.5 cm and brighter. The greatest number of spots is located on the back and sides. The drawing of each cat is individual. It's like a person's fingerprints.

Probably, each of us has heard about black panthers, but not everyone knows that the black panther is a melanistic leopard (dark-colored individual). Color change is the result of mutations. But even in black panthers, if you look closely, in some places you can distinguish darker spots. This natural mutation is more common in individuals living in the forest regions of Southeast Asia.

Black leopard or black panther

Black kittens can be born not only in black leopards, but even in ordinary spotted leopards.

They are most active at night. It is during this period that these graceful predators go hunting. Leopards feed on various medium-sized ungulates: deer, antelope, roe deer and other animals. In the "lean period" they do not disdain rodents, and, and carrion. They often attack livestock (most often while grazing on pastures), but they prefer not to approach too close to human settlements.

With booty

These cats are solitary by nature, but can also live in pairs. They climb trees with incredible ease and often settle there for daytime rest or for ambush. But for the most part they prefer to hunt on the ground. To do this, they use one of two main techniques: sneaking quietly or ambushing.

day rest

In order for the prey to remain intact and safe, leopards prefer to drag it into the trees. This procedure is done with incredible ease, as if not lifting 50-60 kg, but a bag filled with straw.

With prey on the tree

The mating season in different habitats begins at different times, for example, in the southern regions it lasts almost all year round, and in the northern regions it begins in late autumn or early winter. At this time, males become quite aggressive and often arrange “wedding” fights over females, but without fatal outcomes.

Pregnancy lasts only 3 months. Before giving birth, the female goes in search of a suitable den for her future kittens. 1-2 cubs are born, which are raised exclusively by the mother. Male kittens are not allowed. He lives near the brood, but visits him infrequently. The cubs grow very quickly and after 2-2.5 years they become sexually mature. They begin to acquire their families at the age of 2-3 years.

Female with cubs

In the wild, the life expectancy of leopards is approximately 12-15 years, while in captivity - all 24.

Like all big cats, leopards can be deadly to humans. Extremely rare, but it happens. The reasons for attacking a person can be different:

1) wounding an animal while hunting it;

2) injuries from porcupine quills (the injection sites begin to fester and hurt terribly, as a result of which the animal loses its former mobility and cannot keep up with frisky prey);

3) old age (in old individuals, too, the strength is not the same as before).

Leopard sleeps in a broken tree

The most famous man-eating leopard was the leopard from Rudraprayag (Northern India). The events took place in the 1920s. He killed 125 people. For eight years he kept the area at bay. At first, the leopard lay in wait for night walkers on forest roads, and then began to break into dwellings. In 1925 he was shot dead.

Rudraprayag man-eating leopard

Now the number of these beautiful animals is declining every year. As a result, 5 subspecies were listed in the IUCN Red Book, and the Far Eastern leopard was also listed in the Red Book of Russia. In Russia, since the 16th century, leopards living in the Caucasus region have also been called leopards.

The leopard is the most beautiful and graceful animal of Asia and Africa, a wild big cat of the panther family.. Some subspecies have a relatively high abundance, five of them are on the verge of extinction. The living space occupies almost the entire African continent (except for the Sahara), the Arabian Peninsula, the territory of India, the eastern region of Tibet, the Himalayas, Asia, the foothills of the Caucasus, Siberia.

Mostly the leopard lives in savannahs, mixed forests, shrublands, mountainous regions. The animal is able to adapt to any landscape, except for a very dry area. A prerequisite for existence is a stream or river nearby.

Appearance

Outwardly, the leopard looks menacing, although it has a certain grace and charm:

• The body is rather large, slender, muscular, squat. The length without a tail is from 90 to 190 cm. The smallest individuals have a height at the withers of 45 cm, in large specimens it reaches 78 cm. The length of the tail is from 60 to 120 cm.
• The mass of the predator depends on the region of habitat and, as a rule, the weight of females does not exceed 65 kg, and males 75 kg.
• The skull is massive with powerful jaws.
• The fangs are huge, up to ten centimeters.
• The ears are small, there are no brushes.
• The mane is missing.
• The coat is coarse, close to the body.
• The color of the leopard is distinguished by the presence of dark spots (solid, ring-shaped) on the main red or yellow background. All spotted leopards have different spot patterns. Asian subspecies have larger spots, African individuals have small dark marks. The background of the fur of young leopards is somewhat lighter. On the muzzle, the spots are located in the area of ​​​​the mustache and forehead. The color of the animal is unique and unrepeatable.

The spotted leopard sometimes becomes the parent of a completely black individual - the well-known black panther.

Lifestyle and nutrition

The animal sleeps in the trees during the day, sometimes forgetting to remove the hanging tail. Hunts at night. Controls the territory from 8 to 400 km 2 (depending on the abundance of prey, habitat region and terrain). The range of several females often coincides with the range of one male.

Hunting grounds are marked with claws, feces, urine. The audit of the territory is carried out regularly, using the factor of surprise, rarely chooses the same routes. He communicates with neighbors through a roar, arranges a hot meeting for everyone who dares to invade his patrimony.

The leopard hunts prey weighing up to 900 kg. It does not make sudden movements, it slowly approaches the victim, disguising itself, clinging to the ground. At dusk, excellent vision and hearing help out. The beast is not endowed with a good sense of smell.

The animal jumps to a height of 3 meters, the maximum length of jumps is 6 meters. The speed of a leopard is less than the speed of a cheetah, but still very high - up to 60 km per hour. The predator jumps on the prey when it is less than 10 meters away, bites into the throat and breaks the cervical spine. The strangled game is carried under the nearest tree, where the meal takes place. All that remains of the prey is sprinkled with earth, dry leaves, or dragged onto a tall tree. The main prey are ungulates.

In a hungry year, the leopard replenishes the lack of favorite food with monkeys, rodents of various sizes, reptiles, and birds. It can also attack pets.

Reproduction and care of offspring

Male and female leopards often live nearby, treat each other gently and very respectfully.. Together they play, frolic (and not only during the mating period). A wild leopard cat living in the south can give birth at any time of the year (the peak period is the month of May). Northern animals breed in January-February. The female attracts males by smells, the mating of predators occurs repeatedly. The mating games continue for several days.

Pregnancy lasts 3 months. The leopard cat builds a lair secretly from her father in a secluded place. A recess under the roots of trees or a small cave serve as a refuge. In the offspring from one to three cubs.

A newly born leopard kitten weighs no more than a kilogram. He opens his eyes in the second week, feeds on mother's milk for up to three months, and at six weeks slowly joins the meat. Cubs are pugnacious, playful and very gluttonous. The mother has to leave them alone for a long time to get enough food.

A leopard kitten grows and gains weight quickly, reaching sexual maturity at 2-2.5 years. From this moment begins his adult life.

In the wild, the lifespan of a predator is 10 to 11 years. Individuals in captivity live up to 21 years.

Subspecies

Individuals from different subspecies differ in color, size and are adapted to a specific habitat.. Animals can interbreed with each other and produce fertile offspring. There are nine genetically confirmed subspecies of the leopard that exist in our time:

- one of the rarest subspecies of the leopard and the smallest of its counterparts. It lives in the mountainous regions of the Arabian Peninsula, tolerates a dry hot climate well. There are no more than 200 copies in the world. The population, despite conservation measures, tends to decrease.

Habitual for most leopards, the golden-yellow coat color is available only in the back area. The sides, belly and paws are painted grayish-white or beige. Black, small spots are evenly distributed throughout the body. The male weighs about 30 kg, the weight of the female does not exceed 20 kg, the body length with a tail is within 1.4 m. The main diet includes hyraxes, gazelles, and mountain goats.

It lives in African jungles, semi-deserts and savannahs. It avoids dry places, so the leopard is never found in the Sahara. The population is the largest of all subspecies. The main threat comes from man - intensive extermination, the advance of civilization on the natural habitat. The subspecies is unevenly distributed within its range.

Individuals, depending on the region of habitat, have a different coat color and size. The inhabitants of dense tropical forests are endowed with more juicy and bright tones in color. A leopard from the northern provinces is several times larger than its southern counterpart. The diet includes cubs of zebras, antelopes, monkeys, reptiles, birds. The rest of the food hides on the tree.

Occasionally found in oak and mixed forests of the Far East. The habitat of the subspecies occupies 10 - 15 thousand km 2. The population is in critical danger, it is difficult to replenish. The leopard breeds very slowly, there are practically no females capable of producing viable offspring, pregnancy occurs once every three years.

There are very few animals left in the wild - 12 individuals in areas adjacent to China, 57 individuals in the Primorsky Territory of Russia (data for 2015). The animal is quite large - the weight of the male can reach 53 - 60 kg, the female - 42.5 kg. The length of the body is 107 - 136 cm, the tail is 82 - 90 cm. The fur fits snugly to the body, the length of the pile is up to 5 cm.

The color palette includes yellow, red, golden and red shades. The spots are black (solid, annular), forming a continuous pattern along the ridge. The tail is in solid and large annular spots. It feeds on everything that it can get (deer, roe deer, wild boars, calves, smaller game). It feeds on large prey for several days.

It was first described by the German naturalist Friedrich Mayer in 1794. The habitat of the subspecies is limited by the borders of the Indian subcontinent - the Indus River, the Himalayas, the Ganges delta and the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra. This leopard is found in Bangladesh, Nepal, throughout India, some parts of Pakistan, Bhutan.

Natural habitat - forests (dry deciduous, tropical, northern coniferous and temperate zones). In the Himalayas, the leopard conquers heights from two and a half to five thousand meters. Females weigh 29 - 34 kg, grow in length from 104 to 120 cm, have a tail up to 88 cm long. Males are much larger - an adult grows up to 142 cm in length, weighs 55 - 77 kg, tail length is 90 cm. The color of the skin is dark - brown, spots are large, rounded, look contrasting in the photo.

- lives in southern China, southern and eastern regions of Asia. The subspecies is threatened with extinction. Animal bones and other body parts are used in traditional Chinese medicine, and leather is used to make well-selling products. Illegal sales markets, despite the ban, are in Myanmar, Thailand, China.

The leopard chooses hunting grounds in mixed deciduous, dry evergreen forests, where there are gentle slopes and access to a reservoir. It climbs to heights up to 600 meters. It feeds mainly on venison and wild pork, which competes with humans, strongly depends on its activities.

- an inhabitant of deciduous forests, subalpine meadows, deep rocky ravines. The subspecies occupies a fairly wide range, which includes northern Iran, the Caucasus mountains, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. The largest number of animals in Iran is 850 individuals, in Turkey and Georgia there are practically no such predators left - up to 5 individuals in each of the states. The total population is 1300 animals.

The body length of an adult is from 130 to 183 cm, the tail length is about 1 meter. The average weight is 70 kg, the height at the withers is 76 cm. The coat color is grayish-ocher or grayish-white. The intensity of the background color depends on the season - in winter it is very light, in summer it is darker. The spots are mostly solid, sometimes grouped into ring-shaped shadows, transverse dark marks are located on the tail.

- a typical representative of the fauna of northern China. The living space is occupied by forests and mountain ranges of the region. The population reaches 2.5 thousand individuals. The size is comparable to the Far Eastern subspecies.

The color of the coat is dark orange, the pattern on the coat is in the form of ring-shaped shadows with dark spots located in the center (like a jaguar). The length of the coat of this animal is the largest of all known subspecies.

- a solo hunter from the island of Sri Lanka. The habitat covers the entire island. On its territory, among other predators, it has no competitors. It is in danger as an endangered subspecies. The number in the wild is up to 250 individuals. It is kept in captivity in zoos around the world (in 2011 there were 75 individuals). The French zoo is actively engaged in a breeding program for this subspecies.

This leopard feeds on large animals, sometimes it can switch to small mammals, reptiles and birds. Rarely drags prey up a tree.
It has a reddish or brownish-yellow base color with medium-sized black spots located close to each other. The average weight of a male is 56 kg, females - 29 kg.

He chose the Indonesian island of Java as his habitat with its tropical climate, mountain ranges and forests. Human encroachment on the natural habitat, a decrease in the amount of food habitual for a predator and uncontrolled extermination led to a sharp reduction in the population. In the wild, the number of Javan leopards does not exceed 250 individuals.

The zoos of Indonesia and Europe contain several dozen animals. Animals are completely black or the usual spotted color. Main food: monkeys, ungulates, wild boars.

• The last Arabian leopard in the Hajar Mountains (Northern Territory of the Sultanate of Oman) was killed by a shepherd protecting his livestock in 1976.
• In Africa, the limit of shooting leopards is set annually. The cost of the right to shoot - $ 4 - 12 thousand.
• In Tanzania, hunting for females is prohibited.
• In Asian countries, hunting these animals is prohibited by law.
• The European leopard is a predatory animal of the Pleistocene era. The subspecies became extinct during the last ice age (about 10 thousand years ago BC). The remains of the animal were discovered in Heidelberg (Germany). The approximate age of the find is 600 thousand years BC.
• Leopard Chung Chi from China is one of the most prolific predators living in captivity (died in 1993). He managed to become the father of fifteen cubs from different females. The total number of descendants is equal to 40.
• The infamous Rudraprayag district in India, due to the fault of the leopard, received. A dangerous and seasoned predator terrorized the local population for eight years (from 1918 to 1926). The confirmed number of victims is 125 people. After numerous unsuccessful attempts, the killer leopard was destroyed on May 2, 1926 by hunter Jim Corbett.
• The leopard does not like dogs, strangling them at the first opportunity.