Leopard Predation Thread

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Leopard predation of sea animals:


There was  confirmed predation of African Penguins by Leopards and Caracals 

"For logistical reasons, not all carcasses could be obtained; a subset of 52 penguins that were killed by Caracal, 27 penguins killed by a Leopard, 10 penguins killed by Domestic Dogs, and 4 penguins killed by Cape Grey Mongoose were evaluated."


"Twenty-seven adult penguins predated by Leopard were examined, representing a subset of the 31 individuals killed during a killing spree by a single Leopard at Stony Point (Table 2). Externally, most affected individuals only showed small amounts of blood on the neck, and in most cases there was no tearing or consumption of the carcass. Based on the patterns of lesions observed upon external examination, cases were subjectively classified in three categories (Table 4): no neck fracture, single neck fracture, and multiple neck fractures"


There is even some extra detail about how the different killing methods between Leopard and Caracal.


"The killing techniques employed by Caracal and Leopard to kill African Penguins were consistent with those used by these predators to kill small antelope, resulting in relatively ‘clean’ kills with few bite marks to the neck (Kingdon and Hoffmann 2013). A similar killing technique appears to be employed by Cougar Puma concolor in Argentina, based on camera-trap photographs showing cougars carrying Magellanic Penguins Spheniscus magellanicus by holding them with a bite to the upper neck (Frere et al. 2010). Caracal primarily targeted the upper (cranial) parts of the neck, whereas the Leopard preferred the lower (caudal) neck; but perhaps the most reliable parameter to differentiate predation by these predators is the size and inter-canine spread of the bite marks and the greater force exerted that is observed in cases of Leopard predation. In carcasses where no canine puncture marks were found because the skin had been torn out or consumed, Caracal involvement can be determined by the characteristic pattern of near-decapitation or decapitation due to the chewing of neck muscles and vertebrae down to the pectoral girdle, which was not seen in Leopard-predated carcasses. However, it should be borne in mind that decapitation and near-decapitation was also seen in penguin chicks killed by Cape Grey Mongoose"

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

source: Vanstreels, Ralph ET, et al. "Identification of land predators of African penguins Spheniscus demersus through post-mortem examination." Ostrich 90.4 (2019): 359-372.

There were some news articles of Leopard predation on penguins.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/...vation-deb

https://africageographic.com/stories/leo...-penguins/


There were earlier posts of Leopards killing pelicans.

There is also the case of a Leopard killing a juvenile Cape Fur Seal.


There was also a mention of Leopards and Lions being observed by locals to raid sea turtle nests in the beaches of Angola. 



"occasional nest predators included lions, leopards"


source: Carr, Thomas, and Nicole Carr. "Surveys of the sea turtles of Angola." Biological Conservation 58.1 (1991): 19-29.


Hopefully, there should be more reports of Leopards hunting animals endemic to the African coast and mangroves. 

It is interesting how Leopard prey can range from Himalayan Tahr of the mountain slopes to the Penguins of the beaches. Reply