© Copyright 2009, all rights reserved. Leopard
Leopards spend much of their time resting or hunting. They usually take a rest for most of the daytime. Like most other cats, leopards are superb tree-climbers. They store carcasses on a tree branch to avoid theft by other predators such as lions, hyenas, and wild dogs. They can straddle and sleep on a tree branch. They even do some hunting activities in a tree.
Like house cats, leopards do not like stepping into water, but they swim well when they have to. Leopards usually drink water daily if a water source is easily accessible, but they can live without drinking for as long as a month. Their need for water can be primarily satisfied by the fluids from prey they eat.
Leopards are solitary animals. They like to live alone in territories called home ranges. They move quietly and carefully. Leopards are nocturnal animals. Their excellent night vision makes them superb hunters at night time. They usually hunt by stalking. When they get close enough to their prey, they make a final pounce or leap and kill their prey by a bite to its scruff or throat. Leopards usually drag their victims high up into a tree to avoid theft by other animals. They also feed on the kills of other predators.
Leopards are stealthy and secretive animals. They try to stay out of people’s sight as much as possible. People have difficulty spotting them in the wild. Many visitors to Africa, which has a large leopard population, leave without ever having seen this elusive spotted cat.
Leopard Behavior
