WildFact
›
Information Section
›
Terrestrial Wild Animals
›
Wild Cats
›
Leopard
Leopard Predation Thread
Leopard Predation Thread
|
Leopard Predation Thread
|
Leopards have a high preference for Kudu in areas without any significant competitor, except for Brown Hyenas and Cheetah.
"In the absence of larger predators leopards may prey on slightly larger prey such as greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) in Africa (Stein 2008, Karanth and Sunquist 1995)."  *This image is copyright of its original author Adult Kudu here made up a good portion of kills. The percentage would be about 17%. It was also a female Leopard with cubs, so small animals like Duiker were also killed. source: Stein, A. B. (2008). Ecology and conservation of the leopard (Panthera pardus Linnaeus 1758) in northcentral Namibia. University of Massachusetts Amherst.  
A Sri Lankan leopard with a failed boar hunt
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Sahan Gooneratne Wildlife Photography
Inexperienced young Leopard trying to hunt down a small Crocodile.
Not sure if it is in India or Africa. The landscape looks like an African environment, but the language seems to be from some part of India, based on the comment section.
Leopard snatches a Feral or Stray Dog.
 *This image is copyright of its original author Here is the full video.
Leopard jumps about 20 feet in the air to catch a Bird.
 *This image is copyright of its original author You can see the Leopard jumps on a bent part of the treetrunk to launch itself several feet in the air to catch the Bird. Original video:
Adult Wild Boar killed by Leopard.
«Apparently, the victim was obtained while feeding apples, lying in abundance on the ground. The boar was an adult, head length is 44 cm, and age, probably at least 4-5 years, which is observed for the first time since leopards were introduced into the wild. Usually the boars victims were young», - said Sergey Trepet, research officer the Caucasian biosphere reserve, member of WWF-Russia monitoring group. «This fact suggests that the leopard has adapted perfectly in the wild, successfully implements hunting skills and is confident enough to get a large prey. It is important to note that Artek has never been seen by locals. All this suggests that the preparation of leopards for life in the wild in the Sochi National Park Breeding Facilities is fully consistent with the objectives of the Reintroduction Program. The chance of meeting a leopard is low, - explains Valery Shmunk, Director of the "Russian Caucasus" Ecoregional Office, WWF-Russia, - The victim was almost completely eaten, there were left only head eaten from the bottom part, skin and lower limbs. There was a den nearby, it can be assumed that it belonged to the leopard».  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Photos by Sergey Trepet of WWF Russia https://wwf.ru/en/resources/news/kavkaz/...il-rekord/
Caspian Red Deer Stag killed by Leopard.
The Red Deer was scavenged by a Bear afterwards. "Within the cluster of the male Akhun, the remains of a large 5-6-year-old male deer (!) Were found. At the same time, it was also observed how the corpse of this deer was buried by a bear, which apparently found its prey later. The bear took advantage of the fact that the leopard could, after satisfying its hunger, move away from its prey. Inspection of the site showed that the bear dragged the deer down the slope for a long time, as evidenced by the trail on the grass. Judging by its appearance, the deer was caught recently, a day or two ago, since there was no strong smell and traces of decomposition yet. The animal had eaten only a small part of the thoracic region and neck. Judging by the nature of the wounds on the neck and muzzle, the deer was killed by the leopard." http://www.privetsochi.ru/blog/fif/65539.html  *This image is copyright of its original author
Another failed attempt at killing a water buffalo calf. It seems Sri Lankan leopards are more bold than other leopards, more than once are they observed charging in and targetting the calf(s) despite the presence of the herd or mother.
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author osh.n_perera
Adult Female Eland killed by Leopard.
 *This image is copyright of its original author Adult Burchell's Zebra killed by Leopard.  *This image is copyright of its original author source: de Ruiter, Darryl J., and Lee R. Berger. "Leopards as taphonomic agents in dolomitic caves—implications for bone accumulations in the hominid-bearing deposits of South Africa." Journal of Archaeological Science 27.8 (2000): 665-684. This study is interesting to note since the Leopard killed many of these animals and managed to transport them into caves for storage. Interesting sentences in the abstract, as well as comparison to how Sabretooth Cats may have cached their kills: "The resulting bone assemblage indicates that, when available, leopards will preferentially utilise the deep recesses of caves to the exclusion of trees when feeding, and that the size of prey leopards are capable of capturing, killing and transporting has previously been underestimated. The implications this may have for understanding the accumulation of fossils in the hominid-bearing caves of South Africa are that bones derived form leopards consuming prey in trees probably did not contribute significantly to the assemblages, and further that it is not necessary to invoke sabre-tooth cat involvement for the larger animals found in these assemblages. This modern cave probably represents a more appropriate model for the accumulation of bones in the fossil caves of the Sterkfontein Valley, and the assemblage is being continually monitored to view any and all taphonomic alterations that are occurring" Also, interesting how the author was surprised of Leopards being able to kill Ungulates many times their size, along with being able to drag them to another location. |
| Users browsing this thread: |
| 46 Guest(s) |