Leopard Predation Thread

[Styx38]

Leopards go for larger areas in areas without larger competitors:



1. Sambar Deer

Anyway, in Sariska Tiger Reserve, India

*This image is copyright of its original author

"The contribution of rodent in leopard’s diet was 44.2% in 1990, when the study area was largely occupied by tigers (Sankar & Johnsingh 2002), but after the local extermination of tiger from the study area (2007-08), Mondal et al. (2011) found no contribution of rodent in leopard’s diet. Later, after the re-introduction of tiger in the study area (in 2009), the contribution of rodent in leopard’s diet raised to 5.4% (Table III). In 1990, chital contributed maximum in tiger diet (57.2%) followed by sambar (18.1%) and in leopard diet, rodent contributed maximum (44.2%) followed by chital (20.2%), sambar (19.4%) and nilgai (7%). But after the local extermination of tiger from the study area, the diet of leopard changed significantly. The contribution of sambar and nilgai in leopard’s diet increased to 40.3% and 11.5% respectively in 2007-08, when there was no tiger in the study area (Mondal et al. 2011) (Table III). It was evident that, leopard shifted their diet from lesser prey species. to large ungulates after tiger extermination from Sariska (Sankar et al. 2009; Mondal et al. 2011)"

Prey selection, food habits and dietary overlap between leopard Panthera pardus (Mammalia: Carnivora) and re-introduced tiger Panthera tigris (Mammalia: Carnivora) in a semi-arid forest of Sariska Tiger Reserve, Western India  (Mondal et. al)

You could see that Adult Sambar Female (31% of Leopard kills) followed by Adult Male Sambar (16% of Leopard kills) made the highest amount of Leopard kills. For example. contribution of Sambar in Leopard's diet became 40.3% from  the previously established 19.4% after Tigers were briefly extirpated. The researchers found that Leopards shifted their diet to large ungulates when the larger competitor was temporarily gone.


2. Cattle 

"During 1990 to 2003, most leopard depredations (90.3%) were on cattle (Table 3), and primarily adult livestock were killed. "

*This image is copyright of its original author

Livestock predation by common leopard in Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, India: human–wildlife conflicts and conservation issues Chandra Prakash Kala and Kishor Kumar Kothari

The Binsar area has Leopards, but no Tiger. Leopards had a higher preference for Bulls.

On the other hand, in a  Tiger dominated area, Leopards had a preference for Cows and Calves over Bulls.

*This image is copyright of its original author

http://www.snowleopardnetwork.org/bibliography/Sangay_2008.pdf

 

3. Feral Donkey

Feral Donkey were the second highest amount of kills after Baboons in the Karoo region.

*This image is copyright of its original author

A good portion were adults:

"This trend was less obvious for the donkeys which were killed, as many of the remains found appeared to come from adult (or close to adult-sized) individuals."

Aspects of the Ecology of Leopards (Panthera pardus) in the Little Karoo, South Africa by Gareth Mann


The interesting part was that two adult female Eland were killed.

"Leopards usually killed juvenile and sub-adult individuals of the larger prey species (eland, kudu, and cattle). However, two of the eland killed were adult females, suggesting that leopards in the area are capable of killing large prey weighing over 300 kg."


Keep in mind these are Cape Leopards, with average weight  of males at 35-41 kg.


4. Other kills:

 

There was a brief mention of them focusing more on Kudu in areas with absence of larger carnivores.

Quote:In the absence of larger predators P. pardus may prey on slightly larger prey such as greater kudu (Karanth and Sunquist 1995; Stein 2008).

source: Stein AB. , Hayssen V. 2013 Panthera pardus (Carnivora: Felidae). Mamm. Species 45, 30–48. 

There were also two areas without Lions/Spotted Hyenas (or a very low concentration of them). These had some adult Eland Cow kills.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Stuarts’ Field Guide to Tracks & Signs of Southern, Central & East African Wildlife  by  Chris Stuart, Mathilde Stuart



"Most remarkably, the remains of an adult female eland (Taurotragus oryx (Pallas)) werefound intact, except for the probable removal of the viscera prior to transport into the cave. Bite marks on the neck of the animal clearly indicate that the eland was killed through bite su¡ocation. This animal would have weighed between 350 and 450 kg alive (Skinner & Smithers, 1990; Estes, 1991)"

 Leopard (Panthera pardus Linneaus) cave caching related to anti-theft behaviour in the John Nash Nature Reserve, South Africa  by Darryl J. de Ruiter and Lee R. Berger

Also, other big animals killed in the study.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Of course, neither of these places had a proper ecology study. Just some noted kills.

This the proof we have so far of Leopards favoring bigger prey in absence of larger carnivores and other major competitors, or at least they live in lower populations/far from the main study area. Reply