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

[peter]

THE LEOPARD (Panthera pardus)

Although much more numerous than tigers and lions, leopards too walk the edge in many regions. The reason is the growing number of humans and the destruction of the natural world. The competition for space has resulted in more confrontations between humans and leopards. Indian leopards in particular often feature in newspaper reports. In most cases, the news isn't good.

More often than tigers or lions, leopards turn to humans for food. Most of them focus on farm animals and pets, but humans are always close. The next step in this development is confrontations with humans. When they learn to face them, they often lose their fear of humans. Not a few of them turn into man-eaters. A century ago, most man-eaters were leopards. The most notorious of them, the Panar man-eater, killed at least 400 humans in northern India. Although the situation has changed in the last decades, man-eaters still are quite common in some parts of Nepal and northern India.

Not all leopards surrounded by humans develop into man-eaters. In some densely populated regions of India, they learned to co-exist with humans. Although they often hunt dogs and other smallish animals, only few of them kill humans.           

Although smaller than tigers, lions and jaguars, leopards show more regional and individual variation. Sexual dimorphism also seems to be more outspoken in leopards. The largest subspecies, apart from a few exceptions (Kruger Park and Zimbabwe), live in regions where their larger relatives have (all but) disappeared. Sizewise, one could conclude the presence or absence of other large predators could be as important as altitude, vegetation and prey density, if not more so.

Males of large subspecies average 6.10-7.4 in total length (measured in a straight line) and 120-130 pounds. Male Persian leopards, at about 7.4-7.5 (223,52-226,08 cm.) and 140-145 pounds (63,50-65,77 kg.), top the table. Large individuals, ranging between 7.4-7.10 (possibly up to 8.0), often exceed 160 pounds. Exceptional leopards in Iran and southern parts of Africa reached 190-200 pounds (86,18-90,72 kg.). As differences between age-groups seem to be quite outspoken, one could conclude male leopards continue to grow after they reached adulthood. Males in the Cape Province, Eritrea, the extreme west and southwest of Asia, Java and parts of Vietnam average well below 100 pounds. Even females of large subspecies only seldom exceed 100 pounds and 6.7 in total length.

Skulls of males of large subspecies average 9-10 inches in greatest total length. Exceptional skulls exceed 11 inches. Although not much shorter than skulls of large male jaguars, large leopard skulls are much less robust. The most robust I saw belonged to large male leopards shot in densely forested regions in western parts of central Africa. Although most were a bit shorter and flatter than skulls of leopards shot in other regions, they often had more robust mandibulas and larger teeth. As a result, they were heavier. The skull of a male shot near the Chor River (Iran) had the largest sagittal crest I saw.

As a result of the outspoken differences in size, leopards prey on very different animals. Apart from a few regions, leopards usually carry their kill into a tree. The strength they display is remarkable.

This thread is dedicated to leopards, perhaps the most adaptable of the big cats. Anyone with information about the (status of) different subspecies is invited to post it here. We would also appreciate good info about habits, relations with other predators, enemies and diseases. Information about man-eating leopards can be posted in this thread and/or the thread about man-eating big cats (also in the Premier League). Reply