Endangered Leopards

About Leopards

Leopards are exceptionally adaptable creatures, and are found living mainly in the grasslands, woodlands, savannas, and the tropical rainforests. Some of them are also found in the temperate forests in Russia, where winter temperature reaches below -25 degree centigrade (-13 degree Fahrenheit).

There are eight subspecies of leopards worldwide. They are Anatolian Leopards, South Arabian Leopards, North Persian Leopards, Amur Leopards, Javan Leopards, Sri Lankan Leopards, North Chinese Leopards, and North African Leopards. All these eight subspecies of leopards are known as "true-leopards".

Snow Leopards and Clouded leopards also belong to the category of leopards, but they are not true-leopards. Snow Leopards are found in the mountainous regions of Asia whereas Clouded Leopards live in the rainforests in Asia.

Except the North African Leopards, which are found in Africa, all the other leopards live in different parts of Asia. Anatolian Leopards, South Arabian Leopards, Amur Leopards, and the North African Leopards are listed by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as critically endangered. The latest population of the endangered leopards is estimated at over 500,000 worldwide.

The body length of an adult leopard ranges from 3.4 feet to 6.6 feet, and it weighs between 65 lbs to 155 lbs. The leopard coat colors vary from light brown to a deep rusty yellow. They are covered with rosettes, and have lighter under parts. Some leopards have black-colored coats, and still contain rosettes that are dark brown and black.

Leopards can run at speeds 58 kilometers per hour, and are quick climbers on trees. They are solitary creatures, and are mostly active at night. They spend most of their time in trees to avoid confrontation with other carnivorous animals such as lions and hyenas.

Leopards are opportunistic hunters and prefer to hunt prey from the trees. They feed on monkeys, rats, reptiles, amphibians, wild pigs, gazelles, birds, and fish. After killing its prey, the leopard drags it up into the tree to prevent other animals from stealing it.

Female leopards are smaller than male leopards. The female leopards may give birth to cubs once every two years. They give birth to 2-3 cubs after a three-month gestation period.

Causes for the endangerment of Leopards

The population of the endangered leopards significantly declined during 1960s and 70s. They are primarily hunted for their fur. This endangered animal is also threatened due to trapping and poisoning by farmers. The local villagers consider them as a threat for their livestock. When this endangered animal enters in their domain, they kill it for the fear of being attacked and losing lives and livestock.

Moreover, habitat loss due to rapid expansion of human population has made them endangered animals. The commercial hunting of endangered leopards, and decline in the population of prey has added to their difficulties.

Leopards are an integral part of the food chain. Their disappearance from the earth will cause a severe imbalance in nature. Therefore, it is important to conserve the declining numbers of the endangered leopards in the interest of the human beings.