Leopards are the most adaptable of the big cats. Because of their solitary and secretive nature, most leopards go unnoticed, and so are not bothered. Even in the event that humans encroach on a leopard's territory, it "retaliates" by changing its dietary habits to include the human's livestock or dogs. However, leopards are easy to hunt because they can easily be treed by dogs. Leopards also follow the same arboreal pathways, so if studied long enough, it can be easily traced. Brush fires also adversely affect the leopard, taking away necessary cover in which it hunts.

Range and Habitat
The leopard inhabits the forests, mountains and grasslands of Africa and Asia. It can be found in all of sub-Saharan Africa and west of the Kalahari. They occur in China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, Nepal. It is abundant throughout its range, despite being extensively hunted for its skins.

Physical Appearance
The leopard is the smallest of the great cats (lion, tiger, jaguar, leopard). Males are up to 50% larger than the females; this is why there is such a variation in its size. The leopard has an elongated body set on relatively short and stocky legs. The paws are broad. Its ears are short and rounded. They have a very short and sleek coat. Their color varies from light tawny to deep rusty yellow, with a lighter underside. They have dark spots on their face, head, throat, chest, and legs. The rest of their body is covered in "rosettes". Leopards can also be totally black.

Reproduction and Social Behavior
Leopards, like most cats, are solitary animals, coming together only to breed. Breeding is year-round in the tropical areas, and seasonal in the savannas. They are slow breeders, producing 2-3 cubs every couple of years or so. Very few cubs survive to adulthood. After a gestation period of 3 months, the female gives birth to 2-3 cubs in a den. The young are carried to new places every few days to avoid the cubs falling prey to lions. The cubs stay with their mother for two years, then leave to find another territory of their own.

Threats
Hunting for their beautifully spotted fur, habitat encroachment, and hunting have taken their toll on the leoaprd, making many subspecies endangered. They are killed by farmers because they pose a threat to their livestock. They can be easily poisoned because they feed on carrion.

Places where Indian Leopard are found
» Ranthambhore National Park ( Rajasthan )
» Sariska Tiger Reserve ( Rajasthan)