Physical Characteristics:
Size: Leopards are medium-sized compared to other big cats. Males can weigh between 66–176 pounds (30–80 kg), while females are smaller, weighing between 51–132 pounds (23–60 kg).
Appearance: They have a distinctive golden-yellow coat covered with dark rosettes, which helps them blend into their surroundings. Their underbellies are generally white.
Agility: Leopards are highly muscular and are incredibly strong for their size. They are agile climbers and often drag prey into trees to protect it from scavengers like lions or hyenas
Habitat:
Range: Leopards have the largest range of all big cats and can be found in Sub-Saharan Africa, parts of North Africa, Central Asia, India, and Southeast Asia.
Environment: They are highly adaptable and can live in diverse habitats such as savannas, forests, mountains, grasslands, and even urban areas.
Behavior:
Solitary Nature: Leopards are generally solitary animals and only come together during mating or when females are raising cubs.
Hunting: Leopards are carnivores and opportunistic hunters. They primarily hunt at night (nocturnal), using stealth to ambush prey. They feed on a wide variety of animals, from insects to large antelope.
Strength: Leopards are incredibly strong and capable of carrying prey that can be up to twice their own body weight, often dragging it into trees to keep it safe from scavengers.
Reproduction:
Gestation Period: Female leopards have a gestation period of about 90-105 days. They typically give birth to 1–4 cubs, though 2 or 3 is more common.
Cub Development: Cubs are born blind and remain hidden for the first few weeks of life. They start venturing out of the den around 6 to 8 weeks.
Unique Traits:
Melanism: Some leopards have melanism, making them appear black. These are often called “black panthers,” but they are simply leopards with a genetic variation that produces excess black pigment.
Adaptability: Leopards are highly adaptable, which is why they are found in a variety of environments, from dense rainforests to arid deserts.
