Leopard Predation Thread

[Styx38]

^ Wanted to add that Leopards even predate less on adult Cattle in Africa due to not only  large carnivores, but Hyenas frequently going after their kills.

"The mean numbers of [cattle] killed by leopards during the study period between 1989 and 1993 were 0.2 adults, 0.5 young and 5.9 calves per year. For the model without leopard depredation, these values were subtracted to calculate mortality rates for each age class."

 Mizutani. 1999. Impact of leopards on a working ranch in Laikipia, Kenya


Leopard predating on adult Cattle was as low as 0.2, considering Lions and Hyenas dominate the areas.



In a Zimbabwean national park leopards only rarely killed donkeys (3.6% of kills) and rarely killed adult cattle (of leopard cattle kills, 6.7% were adults, 43.3% were yearlings and 50.0% were calves). Of leopard kills, 55.4% were goats, of which 78.2% were adult.

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author


Loveridge et. al. (2017) Bells, bomas and beefsteak: complex patterns of human-predator conflict at the wildlife-agropastoral interface in Zimbabwe

Leopards near a Zimbabwe National Park killed adult Cattle and adult Donkeys in less amounts compared to juveniles, considering they had to compete with Lions and Spotted Hyenas.


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While I pointed out that Leopard's large prey preference depends on the amount of competitors, Hyenas push it even one step beyond.

In fact, the percentage of Leopard's hoisting kills is correlated with Hyenas.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Source: Larger Carnivores of the African Savannas By Jacobus du P. Bothma, Clive Walker

^ For example, Leopards cached the kills most in Tsavo and Kruger National Park, which have Hyenas dominating the place.

While there can be a few impressive prey that a be lifted up trees, Leopards usually follow a weight preference:


"The scientists found that leopards tend to hoist prey that are between half and one-and-a-half times their own weight. Kills too small or too large were often eaten on the ground. The likelihood of hoisting also spiked if hyenas or other male leopards show up."

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20170420-leopards-often-eat-their-lunch-sitting-in-trees-heres-why

This is why they go for unimpressive antelope in the most popular national parks. To see what is the most impressive animal a Leopard can take down, you might as well go to a forest without any major competitor, or at least they should be at a low presence in the area. Reply