The Lepoard - The Most Versatile Big Cat

The leopard is a large carnivore of the feline family that lives in Africa, in Asia, in China and Korea.

Its fur is yellow and covered with round black spots. It's color provides excellent camoflauge in the trees and foliage. The leopeard has outstanding balance and is an excellent climber so it it very at home in the trees.

In fact, the leopard is a panther. Others in the panther family are the “black panther” is spotted but very difficult to see because of it's color.

The leopard is carnivorous and eats birds, monkeys, dogs, antelopes of gazelles and other young animals. It is a solitary creature except during mating season.

Mating season is generally in the spring, except in the cold areas where the mating takes place in February and so that birth can take place in the summer.

After four months of gestation the female withdraws itself in a hollow shaft or under a cave and gives birth to from one to four cubs. The small ones are blind and will open the eyes later only one week.

At two weeks the cubs can walk but will not leave the den before two months. At three months, the cubs are weaned and learn to eat solid food. They follow their mother to learn how to hunt.

The leopard was hunted mainly for it's pelt.

The lifespan of the leopard is approximately 12 years.