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| By:Cassie |
The leopard is graceful and very athletic. A leopard's coat is yellow to
grayish brown. They have one of the largest ranges of every cat. They live
in most of Africa, but can be found in Southern & Eastern Asia.
Leopards from different areas are slightly different so scientists usually
look at them as a number of separate subspecies. Experts can't see eye
to eye on how many subspecies there are.
Snow Leopards!
The snow leopard lives only in forest scrub areas, and in the mountain
step region of the Himalayas and surrounding areas. Generally solitary
except during mating seasons. The snow leopard may be found at altitudes
higher then 6,000 miles in search of migratory such as wild Sheep,
wild goat, and Deer.
Black Panther !
Black panthers
are leopards born with black fur. They are not a separate species of cat.
They are not even a distinct subspecies. The Black
Panther sleeps in trees as resting places, sometimes hunting ground, and
food storage built. Black Panthers may store their dead prey up in a large
trees, keeping it out of scavengers reach. Black Panthers hunt alone at
night, focusing on smaller animals that are not able to fight other predators
like, lions, hyenas, and tigers.
Hunting!
Leopards are skillful hunters of methods to catch their prey.
Sometimes they climb trees and snatch guinea fowl from their perches. They
also may make noise through the branches, to try and frighten young baboons
to losing their balance and fall to their death. The leopards main hunting
method, is to sneak up silently on their prey. With its body crouched low
to the ground and its eyes fixed on the animal, the leopard creeps closer
and closer until it is close enough to pounce on its prey. Leopards have
long, sensitive whiskers to help them feel their way through the long grass
in the dark, Leopards can see up to six times better than people. But it
can still be hard for them to get close to its prey. Animals can usually
tell when leopards are near they get alert and scared. It may take a long
time to get close to their prey. As soon as the leopard
gets close to it's prey he rushes forward and grabs the victim with its
front paws. Then it closes its jaws around the animal's throat so that
it will brake its neck or not be able to breathe. Once a leopard kills
its prey it usually drags the dead animal up into the branches of a tree.
This just shows how strong the leopard really is!
Territory!
These amazing hunters usually live alone. Each occupies a territory which
may cover more than 11 square miles. Leopards spend most of there time
watching the boundaries of there territories, spraying logs and trees with
urine. The urine contains a special smell that tells other leopards that
the area is taken. Sometimes the urine is enough to keep a stranger out.
Leopards sometime go into other territories. The owner of the territory
can not stand this, it may cause a serious fight.
BREEDING!
Although leopards are solitary animals, males and females
get together to mate. Leopards can breed when there four years old. When
the female is ready to mate she calls out with a loud, rasping, growl,
then a male comes to visit her. after they have mated, the male leaves
and goes back to his territory. Close to four months after the breeding
the female gives birth to a litter up to about six cubs. The babies are
already covered with fur. The fur looks almost gray because the dark spots
are so close together. The cubs weigh less then 1.5 pounds at there
birth and for about nine days they are blind and helpless. Cats are mammals,
and so the mother feeds her newborns on milk. She hides her baby in a den,
where they are safe from hunters like: bears, lions, tigers, and wolves.