Leopard

Facts about the leopard

The leopard is a powerfully built cat weighing in the region of 80 Kg with a height of about 80-cm at the shoulder. The body colour of the leopard ranges from white to an orange -rust and is dotted with black rosettes or broken circles of different sized blackspots. The legs are shorter than that of a cheetah and also dotted with black spots. The underparts are normally white to an off white colour. The leopards tail is about half the total length of its body with a white tip, the tail is also spotted.

The leopard is normally a solitary animal except when a pair come together to mate or when a female has cubs with her. Leopards are generally nocturnal but are sometimes seen during the early mornings and evenings. Males are territorial and often defend their territories against other males. Territories are marked by tree-scratching, droppings and urine and range in size from as little as 10 square Km to very large areas.

Leopards are not that particular about what they eat, their diet ranges from insects, rodents and birds to medium sized antelopes. Leopards will also occasionally hunt large antelope and readily feed off rotting carcasses. Leopards will stalk and then pounce on their prey much like a domestic cat and do and then pounce on their prey much like a domestic cat and do not rely on high speed chases like the cheetah. The prey is dragged out of sight where the leopard rests before feeding, prey is often lifted into a tree to enable the leopard to feed at leisure, the surplus being stored for later use. Leopards are found all over Southern Africa but are absent from the sheep-farming areas of central South Africa. Leopards are by far the most successful of the large African cats probably due to their wide habitat tolerance, they survive in areas from high mountains to coastal plains and from low to high rainfall areas.

The leopard has distinctive call sounding much like a coarse saw cutting wood, an eerie, rasping sound that plays havoc on the nerves of African nights.

The !Xo trackers of the Kalahari will tell you that it is dangerous to follow a leopard’s spoor. Leopards’, it is believed by the !Xo, will set an ambush if it thinks you are following her back to where her cubs are hidden. Outside of this belief, leopards are not dangerous unless they are wounded. The old hunting term, ‘the big five’ is generally about trying to follow wounded animals.

There have been cases of leopard’s attacking man. The most recent victim was a young game ranger in the southern part of the Kruger National Park. He was attacked and fed on by an old and sick male leopard. These instances are rare but if you see a leopard while walking in the bush - here are some tips:

If you are not walking towards the leopard when you see it, continue walking and try not to look at it. If you choose to ignore the leopard, it will probably do the same. If you encounter a leopard at close range - it will warn you by roaring. Retreat slowly, not directly backwards but rather sideways and away. Do not stare at the leopard, do not try and frighten it and don’t throw anything at it. If the leopard commits to a full attack only a fatal bullet will stop it. A leopard charges extremely quickly and low to the ground. The leopard will jump on you, embrace you and maul you with teeth and four clawed feet. The killing bite is generally directed at the back of your neck or at your throat. It is possible to defend yourself by choking or stabbing a leopard, although this is very unlikely.