Leopard
(Panthera Pardus)
- Height 50-70 cm
- Weight 50- 80 kg
- Breeding 2 – 3 Months
- Gestation 3 Months
- Longevity 21 Years
The South Luangwa National Park is famous for its large population of Leopards, and it is hoped that anybody visiting the park for a decent amount of time should see one of this majestic animals.
They are quick and efficient hunters and have little trouble catching
an Impala or Puku when needed. A Leopard normally takes its prey up
to a fork in a tree or drags it to a shaded area. This is done to
hide it from scavengers, such as the Spotted
Hyaena. They have been
known to carry a carcass that might weigh more than the Leopard itself
into branches five metres above the ground.
Leopards are predominantly solitary cats, although family groups are infrequently observed. They are highly secretive by nature and use available cover to the maximum advantage. Both males and females occupy territories, although male’s territories may overlap those of several females. Like all cats, leopards mark their territories with urine, droppings and glandular secretions.
The call of the Leopard is similar to the sound of timber being sawed.
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