ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - D - THE LEOPARD (Panthera pardus)

[parvez]

(11-07-2016, 10:49 AM)peter Wrote: Interesting debate, but I propose to include leopards. I mean, this thread is about leopards. What about their digestive system? And why their interest in primates? In western parts of Africa, largish monkeys are often hunted. The bigger the better, researchers concluded. Some leopards also hunt bonobos, chimps (adult males apparently included) and gorillas. Why is that? Could we be their ultimate prey? Is this why primates, apart from gorillas, live in trees?

What is known about the situation in Borneo (clouded leopards) and Sumatra (tigers)? The male orang utangs ('forest people') I saw were large and powerful animals. How do they deal with cats on both islands?  

A few weeks ago, I read a post about an allegedly new chimp (sub)species. If I remember correctly, they were described as 'lion-killer chimps'. No joke. Could they have developed a way to drive leopards out of their territory? Is it really new, or did we miss something?

Thanks peter, felines must be stronger than apes and they have ability to kill prey that is even 5 times their size just like other big cats. They are ruthless beasts that are adorably athletic even more than tigers I suppose. That is a lethal combination. Now as for apes as polar said they are weaker than big cats infact very inferiorly built. They even don't seem to have claws. So a primate is easy target for leopards. In the areas you mentioned leopard is ultimate predator or apex predator. So it has no lions or even hyenas probably to fear. In other ecosystems it is seen to be a nervous predator fearing lions and hyenas as they may steal its kills. So it must have become helpless and less interested in hunting in general hunting just in case of severe hunger I suppose. So it must have preferred small prey. Also to be able to climb the tree with huge prey is difficult and risky too as it may slip down. But here it doesn't have to be nervous as there are no lions and probably no hyenas too. It is time for it to display its brute strength solely and like a true king. Monkeys are not as big too and also not as fast as other prey and weaker too. Also leopards can climb trees. So to be able to kill bigger monkeys should be no difficult for leopards they would even offer more meat than small ones. They would be even easier to digest as the flesh is tender than other animals'.
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