The Leopard is one of the big 5 animals. Leopards have no natural predators but given a chance any other predator will kill leopard cubs anytime. Leopards are perhaps the most beautiful of the African cats and also the least social. On your #Africa #Wildlife #Safari you may be lucky to sight the Leopard are they are quite elusive. The Leopard is the next big African cat after the lion. The cat is graceful animal with an elongated body, relatively short legs and a long tail. They have an average body mass of approximately 60 – 70kgs and stands at about two-thirds of a meter tall at the shoulder.
Leopards usually keep to themselves, lurking in dense riverine bush or around rocky kopjes, emerging to hunt late in the afternoon or at night. When hunting Leopards use the surprise element. They either ambush or stalk their prey. Whatever approach they use, the Leopard tries as much as possible to get close to its prey.
It then makes a brief and explosive charge (up to 60km/h), pouncing on its prey and dispatching it with a bite to the neck. Leopards do not have the aptitude to chase their quarry over any kind of distance and will give up if the initial element of surprise is lost and the intended victim gets away.
The cat are capable of carrying animals heavier than themselves and will often drag their prey into the fork of a tree several meters off the ground. The animals scratch trees and use urine to mark their turf. A male will defend his territory against other males, but will share territory with females.
Lions and hyenas are the only animals who occasionally attack adult leopards and are capable of delivering fatal blow. In the wild Leopards may live up to fifteen years
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