The leopard was also known as the panther or pard in earlier days. It is, to many people, like the jaguar to look at, but the two cats differ in many ways. Both animals have a pale interior to many of the large spots, but the jaguar has small black dots within, with the leopard there are never any dark marks. The jaguar is heavier and more stocky, with shorter, thicker legs, it has bigger paws, shorter back and a larger head with more powerful jaws. Like the jaguar, the coat is sometimes obliterated by a condition in which the whole pelt becomes black, hence the 'Black Panther.'

Leopards like hilly, wooden country, but will adapt to almost any kind of habitat. They can be found in Africa, parts of the Middle East, Asia, Malaysia and the Far East. Both the males and females will establish territories which they will defend against other cats of the same sex. They are solitary animals who hunt nocturnally, only mixing with others when breeding. The leopard hunts by stalking and pouncing on its prey, and killing is done by a throttling neck-grasp, or a lethal bite to the back of the head if the prey is small enough. Its main prey are small to medium antelope, but it will pursue small monkeys and large rodents. A leopard will use its incredible strength to drag carcasses up trees, but will also hide food in cavities at ground level too.

There is no particular time for breeding, and the female will produce a litter of two or three cubs approximately every year and a half. Mating is done every 15 minutes throughout the night! and the cubs will be born about 100 days later. The mother will suckle them for approximately another 100 days, moving them to a different location every few days until they become active. When the cubs are able to follow, she will lead them displaying the white underside of her tail for them to follow. The young will start to hunt for themselves after about one year, and will become sexually mature at about 2½ years. The lifespan of a leopard is between 20 and 30 years... That is, if us human beings can leave them in peace long enough!

The Size of a Leopard: Head + Body: 90 - 190cm (35 ½ - 75 in). Tail: 58 - 110cm (23 - 43 ½ in).

The Weight of a Leopard: 30 - 90 kg (66 - 198 lb).

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