Survey - The Future of Big Cats

[Tshokwane]

The cat is in his very desing an adaptable creature, so all of them have a certain degree of posibility of survival.

However, I think the clear advantage in this case goes to the leopard.

If you take the example of leopards, they live everywhere, not just in places where they are the dominant species, like Sri Lanka, but in most places where they are a second ranking predator, and this is what makes them special.

I think sometimes this is a bit overlooked, but leopards thrive, not just survive, they literally thrive among giants like lions or tigers. How many others do that? We know that tigers and lions are the respective kings of the places where they live, but dure to their size, there isn't really much competition in this sense.

And yet, you have this diminutive cat, in comparison, that is able to make a living among predators much stronger and much more dangerous than him, and more than just this, to dominate a territory of his own.

Also, and I know you said this is not about people, but I think the way leopards conduct themselves when they do encounter people, in fact living right there before their noses, show how adaptable they are.

One thing to note, though. Leopards don't really like water. So in that sense I think you and Pckts have a point in the case of the tigers having a natural advantage, although I would add there as well the jaguars. They are beautifully well adapted to the lakes and rivers of America, to a level that is amazing to see. Reply