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Leopard Predation Thread
Leopard Predation Thread
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Leopard Predation Thread
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Leopard kills Cape fur seals
"For several years the movements of an adult male leopard were monitored around the Uniab Delta. The leopard was captured on several camera-traps that were placed in the area to record the movements of lions. During the past week spoor reconstructions revealed evidence of the leopard catching and killing a juvenile Cape fur seal on two occasions. On both occasions the leopard killed the seal on the beach. One carcass was dragged 1.6km to the Uniab Waterfall and another was dragged up a 6-metre embankment for 900m to a thick reed-bed. These are the first confirmed cases of leopards as maritime carnivores and feeding on marine food items." Camera-trap images of leopard  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Uniab waterfall where leopard stashed seal carcass  *This image is copyright of its original author Leopard dragged seal carcass for 1.6km to Uniab waterfall  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Remains of juvenile Cape fur seal killed by a leopard  *This image is copyright of its original author Source: https://www.desertlion.info/news/43/leopard-kills-cape-fur-seals?fbclid=IwAR3G85hEXeHPetjxSPDLZEgA4dcPpf5xiq9phEQiTHmsIPhbZxiotrntj0w 
Leopards go for larger areas in areas without larger competitors:
1. Sambar Deer Anyway, in Sariska Tiger Reserve, India  *This image is copyright of its original author "The contribution of rodent in leopard’s diet was 44.2% in 1990, when the study area was largely occupied by tigers (Sankar & Johnsingh 2002), but after the local extermination of tiger from the study area (2007-08), Mondal et al. (2011) found no contribution of rodent in leopard’s diet. Later, after the re-introduction of tiger in the study area (in 2009), the contribution of rodent in leopard’s diet raised to 5.4% (Table III). In 1990, chital contributed maximum in tiger diet (57.2%) followed by sambar (18.1%) and in leopard diet, rodent contributed maximum (44.2%) followed by chital (20.2%), sambar (19.4%) and nilgai (7%). But after the local extermination of tiger from the study area, the diet of leopard changed significantly. The contribution of sambar and nilgai in leopard’s diet increased to 40.3% and 11.5% respectively in 2007-08, when there was no tiger in the study area (Mondal et al. 2011) (Table III). It was evident that, leopard shifted their diet from lesser prey species. to large ungulates after tiger extermination from Sariska (Sankar et al. 2009; Mondal et al. 2011)" Prey selection, food habits and dietary overlap between leopard Panthera pardus (Mammalia: Carnivora) and re-introduced tiger Panthera tigris (Mammalia: Carnivora) in a semi-arid forest of Sariska Tiger Reserve, Western India (Mondal et. al) You could see that Adult Sambar Female (31% of Leopard kills) followed by Adult Male Sambar (16% of Leopard kills) made the highest amount of Leopard kills. For example. contribution of Sambar in Leopard's diet became 40.3% from the previously established 19.4% after Tigers were briefly extirpated. The researchers found that Leopards shifted their diet to large ungulates when the larger competitor was temporarily gone. 2. Cattle "During 1990 to 2003, most leopard depredations (90.3%) were on cattle (Table 3), and primarily adult livestock were killed. "  *This image is copyright of its original author Livestock predation by common leopard in Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, India: human–wildlife conflicts and conservation issues Chandra Prakash Kala and Kishor Kumar Kothari The Binsar area has Leopards, but no Tiger. Leopards had a higher preference for Bulls. On the other hand, in a Tiger dominated area, Leopards had a preference for Cows and Calves over Bulls.  *This image is copyright of its original author http://www.snowleopardnetwork.org/bibliography/Sangay_2008.pdf 3. Feral Donkey Feral Donkey were the second highest amount of kills after Baboons in the Karoo region.  *This image is copyright of its original author A good portion were adults: "This trend was less obvious for the donkeys which were killed, as many of the remains found appeared to come from adult (or close to adult-sized) individuals." Aspects of the Ecology of Leopards (Panthera pardus) in the Little Karoo, South Africa by Gareth Mann The interesting part was that two adult female Eland were killed. "Leopards usually killed juvenile and sub-adult individuals of the larger prey species (eland, kudu, and cattle). However, two of the eland killed were adult females, suggesting that leopards in the area are capable of killing large prey weighing over 300 kg." Keep in mind these are Cape Leopards, with average weight of males at 35-41 kg. 4. Other kills: There was a brief mention of them focusing more on Kudu in areas with absence of larger carnivores. Quote:In the absence of larger predators P. pardus may prey on slightly larger prey such as greater kudu (Karanth and Sunquist 1995; Stein 2008). source: Stein AB. , Hayssen V. 2013 Panthera pardus (Carnivora: Felidae). Mamm. Species 45, 30–48. There were also two areas without Lions/Spotted Hyenas (or a very low concentration of them). These had some adult Eland Cow kills.  *This image is copyright of its original author Stuarts’ Field Guide to Tracks & Signs of Southern, Central & East African Wildlife by Chris Stuart, Mathilde Stuart "Most remarkably, the remains of an adult female eland (Taurotragus oryx (Pallas)) werefound intact, except for the probable removal of the viscera prior to transport into the cave. Bite marks on the neck of the animal clearly indicate that the eland was killed through bite su¡ocation. This animal would have weighed between 350 and 450 kg alive (Skinner & Smithers, 1990; Estes, 1991)" Leopard (Panthera pardus Linneaus) cave caching related to anti-theft behaviour in the John Nash Nature Reserve, South Africa by Darryl J. de Ruiter and Lee R. Berger Also, other big animals killed in the study.  *This image is copyright of its original author Of course, neither of these places had a proper ecology study. Just some noted kills. This the proof we have so far of Leopards favoring bigger prey in absence of larger carnivores and other major competitors, or at least they live in lower populations/far from the main study area.
^ Wanted to add that Leopards even predate less on adult Cattle in Africa due to not only large carnivores, but Hyenas frequently going after their kills.
"The mean numbers of [cattle] killed by leopards during the study period between 1989 and 1993 were 0.2 adults, 0.5 young and 5.9 calves per year. For the model without leopard depredation, these values were subtracted to calculate mortality rates for each age class." Mizutani. 1999. Impact of leopards on a working ranch in Laikipia, Kenya Leopard predating on adult Cattle was as low as 0.2, considering Lions and Hyenas dominate the areas. In a Zimbabwean national park leopards only rarely killed donkeys (3.6% of kills) and rarely killed adult cattle (of leopard cattle kills, 6.7% were adults, 43.3% were yearlings and 50.0% were calves). Of leopard kills, 55.4% were goats, of which 78.2% were adult.  *This image is copyright of its original author *This image is copyright of its original author Loveridge et. al. (2017) Bells, bomas and beefsteak: complex patterns of human-predator conflict at the wildlife-agropastoral interface in Zimbabwe Leopards near a Zimbabwe National Park killed adult Cattle and adult Donkeys in less amounts compared to juveniles, considering they had to compete with Lions and Spotted Hyenas. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ While I pointed out that Leopard's large prey preference depends on the amount of competitors, Hyenas push it even one step beyond. In fact, the percentage of Leopard's hoisting kills is correlated with Hyenas.  *This image is copyright of its original author Source: Larger Carnivores of the African Savannas By Jacobus du P. Bothma, Clive Walker ^ For example, Leopards cached the kills most in Tsavo and Kruger National Park, which have Hyenas dominating the place. While there can be a few impressive prey that a be lifted up trees, Leopards usually follow a weight preference: "The scientists found that leopards tend to hoist prey that are between half and one-and-a-half times their own weight. Kills too small or too large were often eaten on the ground. The likelihood of hoisting also spiked if hyenas or other male leopards show up." http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20170420-leopards-often-eat-their-lunch-sitting-in-trees-heres-why This is why they go for unimpressive antelope in the most popular national parks. To see what is the most impressive animal a Leopard can take down, you might as well go to a forest without any major competitor, or at least they should be at a low presence in the area. 
Madzinyo the leopard catches a huge python
Leopard killing a large python. This photo was taken in 1937. Credits to the Chicago Tribune  *This image is copyright of its original author
George Beals Schaller (born 1933) is a German-born American mammalogist, biologist, conservationist and author, and he had evidence that African forest panthers (Panthera pardus pardus) have killed Eastern silverback gorillas (Gorilla beringei) in the area of Kisoro in what is now southwest Uganda, near Rwanda and Virunga National Park in northeastern D. R. Congo! https://books.google.com/books?dq=leopar...&q&f=false
Killing adult silverback gorilla is a very very impressive feature.
(08-15-2019, 09:38 PM)Pckts Wrote: (06-11-2020, 09:47 PM)BorneanTiger Wrote: George Beals Schaller (born 1933) is a German-born American mammalogist, biologist, conservationist and author, and he had evidence that African forest panthers (Panthera pardus pardus) have killed Eastern silverback gorillas (Gorilla beringei) in the area of Kisoro in what is now southwest Uganda, near Rwanda and Virunga National Park in northeastern D. R. Congo! https://books.google.com/books?dq=leopar...&q&f=false If you look my postings in this thread: 397, 399 and 403 they are all about same subject and this case is also mentioned there. Certain things come up like in a cycle. 
" A young Leapard eats a catfish for the first time ."
Very opportunistic to enlarge its range of preys...
1. Sri Lankan leopard with a mugger crocodile it killed:
"We had a fantastic trip into Yala National park. visited here as part of our 8 day tour of Sri Lanka. We were lucky enough to see two leopards spotted by our guide, one where the leopard had caught a crocodile and was eating it, another leopard was crossing the track."  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserRev ... =254952950 2. Lions, Leopards and Elephants have killed Crocodiles on land.  *This image is copyright of its original author *This image is copyright of its original author A Leopard killed a Crocodile, possibly a small adult female, when it was basking on land.  *This image is copyright of its original author *This image is copyright of its original author source: Cott, H.B. 1961. Scientific results of an inquiry into the ecology and economic status of the Nile Crocodile (Crocodilus niloticus) in Uganda and Northern Rhodesia The Transactions of the Zoological Society of London. 29(4): 211–356 3. Another report mentioned that Tigers and Leopards were reported to prey on adult Crocodiles. "Jaguars are said to prey regularly on caimans , and leopards and tigers have been reported to kill and eat adult crocodiles" Giant Reptiles (1973) by Sherman A. Minton and Madge Rutherford Minton 4. Older report of a Leopard killing a 7 foot (2.1 meter) Crocodile. "Ansell mentions the killing of a seven foot crocodile by an African Leopard." The Leopard by Peter Turnbull-Kemp (1967)
Leopard with Indian Python kill.
 *This image is copyright of its original author https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g1379362-d5112901-i84510369-Mudumalai_Wild_Inn_Stone_Cottage-Masinagudi_The_Nilgiris_District_Tamil_.html In this region of India, Leopards predated on Snakes. "The leopard diet comprised of 37.72% of chital, 28.95% of sambar, 17.54% of common langur, 3.51% of wild pig, 3.51% of cattle, 2.63% of gaur, 2.63% of unknown snake species, 1.75 % of hare, 0.88 % of buffalo, and 0.88 % of mouse deer as inferred from the prey remains" source: Ramesh et. al. 2009. Food habits and prey selection of tiger and leopard in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India
Amur Leopards have predated on various animals.
This has included Wapiti, Moose, Wild Boar, Raccoon Dog and Sika Deer.  *This image is copyright of its original author They have also killed Livestock Guardian Dogs with skull bites  *This image is copyright of its original author Mammals of the Soviet Union, Volume 2 Part 2 Carnivora (Hyenas and Cats) edited by V. G. Heptner
It is interesting seeing sub-adult/borderline cub Leopards hunting.
Here is a very young Leopard killing an Axis Deer Stag. |
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