International Leopard Day

1. Leopards are a type of ‘big cat’. They are the smallest of the big four, which also include tigers, lions, and jaguars.

2. There is one species of leopard, but nine subspecies. Many of these subspecies are endangered, or even critically endangered. The Amur Leopard for example is one of the rarest cats on the planet, with only around 100 – 150 left in the wild.

3. The name leopard in ancient Greek means ‘spotted lion’. Leopards are a golden colour with black rose shaped spots called rosettes. Each leopard has a unique pattern. Leopards are lean strong big cats, with soft thick fur. They have a long tail in comparison to their body. Males are quite a bit bigger than female leopards.

4. Leopards look very similar to jaguars, and in some ways cheetahs too. Both leopards and jaguars have rosette style black spots, while cheetahs have black dot style spots. A leopards rosettes are thinner and don’t have any spots inside. A jaguar’s are thicker and have spots in the middle. Also jaguars are generally a bit bigger and more solid looking and have a darker colouring overall, while a cheetah is much smaller and a much thinner slender cat.

5. There are also black leopards, which look an almost solid black colour. They do have the same rosette pattern but it can be hard to see. These creatures are often called black panthers. A black panther is not a separate species, but a name for any big cat that has a black coat. Jaguars with a black coat can also can be called a black panther.

6. Leopards are very adaptable cats and can be found living in many different habitats in across Africa and Asia, such as rainforests, deserts, savannas, mountains and woodlands.

7. Leopards like to live on their own and not with other leopards. They mark their territory to warn other leopards to stay away!  Female leopards look after their cubs for around two years though, making sure they know how to hunt before they go off on their own.

8. Leopards are nocturnal creatures and are most active at night, hunting for their prey. Depending on where a leopard is living they will eat different things and pretty much anything they can find. Leopards tend to creep up on prey, and then pouncing on them when close enough. They will often then attack with a bite to neck with their incredibly strong jaws.

9. When they do catch their prey they will often carry it up into a tree to stop scavengers trying to eat it too. They are very strong and incredibly good climbers. They like to spend lots of time up in trees!

10. Not only are leopards good climbers, they are also good at running, jumping and swimming. Leopards can run at about 36 or 37 miles per hour in short bursts. They can leap 6 metres forward through the air and jump almost 3 metres high. While not quite as keen on water as jaguars or tigers they are good strong swimmers.