Leopard Predation Thread

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Leopard predation on adult male Gorillas.


Two Silverbacks and a Blackback were killed by Leopards.

"Leopard predation was strongly suspected in three deaths (although scavenging cannot be ruled out): a silverback in very poor physical condition at Mbeli Bai, a silverback at Bai Hokou, and a blackback at Lossi."


A Silverback who lost his females ended up getting killed by a Leopard.

"Two cases of group formation were observed at Mbeli Bai, the only site where repeated observations of solitary males were made. Of the nine solitary males, one acquired two females who have subsequently bred, but the other eventually lost all of his females. His body was later found with signs of leopard predation."


This study shows how Leopard predation is an important factor in Gorilla mortality.

"Given the difficulty of observing predation events, and the slow life histories of gorillas, the discovery of three cases of probable leopard predation suggests that it is an important cause of mortality in certain populations."


source: Robbins, Martha M., et al. "Social structure and life‐history patterns in western gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)." American Journal of Primatology: Official Journal of the American Society of Primatologists 64.2 (2004): 145-159. Reply