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

[Spalea]

@BorneanTiger 

About #143: I was alwas a little doubtful sceptical about the Barbary lion's size. As you told he looked very big because of its plentiful mane, perhaps like the Cape lion at the extreme south of the African continent (both regions are under the Mediterranean climate).

But the point about which I am very sceptic concerns their "vigour". The preys range was perhaps still large during the XIXth century, but during the following century the wild preys became scarce (barbary stags, gazelles...) and the Barbary lions preyed mainly on herds of livestock (Hence their extinction later...). And I don't believe that they were very robust by killing some sheep and cows, with a few wild goats, deers and boars more...

When you compare this variety of preys there is no one reason to seriously believe that the Barbary lions were robust in relation to the other lions of the African continent feeding exclusively on wild preys (antelopes, buffalos and so on). Reply