10 Things You Probably Did Not Know About Leopards

Leopards Can See in Near-Total Darkness

Their night vision is up to seven times better than humans', allowing them to hunt efficiently in pitch-black conditions. Just like most animals, a leopard’s pupils dilate according to the amount of light that enters their eyes. Due to adapted retinas, leopards can see seven times better in the dark than humans, making them extraordinary nocturnal hunters.

They Are the Strongest Climbers of the Big Cats

Leopards can drag prey heavier than themselves up into trees to avoid scavengers like hyenas and lions. Among the big cats, leopards are widely regarded as the best climbers. These elusive felines are known for their arboreal skills, which allow them to hunt, rest, and even stash their kills in the safety of the treetops. Leopards are incredibly versatile climbers, capable of navigating through dense forests, rocky cliffs, and even urban environments with ease.

They Are Master Camouflage Artists

Their rosette-patterned coats help them blend seamlessly into a variety of habitats, from savannas to forests and even urban edges. They mostly inhabit areas with patches of light and shadow. Having a solid colour would make them stand out, but their rosetted coat breaks up their body outline, making them less visible. Their camouflage is used to hide from enemies (such as lions, hyenas, and other leopards), but also to conceal themselves from prey. Being solitary hunters, leopards must approach within about 10m of their prey before they pounce. As highly adaptable cats that live in many different habitats, from city outskirts to forests, leopards can blend into almost any environment.

They Do Not Roar Like Lions

Instead of a roar, leopards make a raspy cough-like call to announce their presence (more like a chainsaw than a lion's thunder). Leopards and jaguars are all incapable of purring, while every other cat can purr but not roar.

Each Leopard's Spots Are Unique

Every leopard sports a pattern of rosettes and whisker spots as unique to that individual as a set of human fingerprints. These patterns are not randomly arranged, but rather the result of specific genes responsible for pigmentation and pattern formation. This genetic code has been fine-tuned over millions of years to provide the leopard with a survival edge.

They Are Found in More Places Than Any Other Big Cat

Leopards are incredibly adaptable and can be found in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, even surviving in the snowy Himalayas. Although difficult to spot on safari, leopard numbers are said to be higher than any other big cat species in Africa. Leopards can be found in a variety of habitats ranging from desert to equatorial forests, high mountains to coastal regions, although they prefer woodlands or grasslands. Leopards have also been spotted on the outskirts of large cities like Harare, Johannesburg and Nairobi.

They Are Solitary Most of the Time

Leopards prefer to live alone, meaning that they are solitary animals; however, an exception to this rule is when a mother gives birth to her cub and must bring it up, or when males and females mate, and when males encounter rivals.

They Often Store Food for Later

To avoid losing their kill, leopards hoist carcasses into trees where scavengers can't reach them and return over days to feed.

Cubs Are Born with Blue Eyes

Leopard cubs are born blind and with striking blue eyes, which gradually turn golden as they age.

Black Panthers Are Leopards

‘Black panthers’ in Africa and Asia are melanistic leopards (meaning that they still have spots, but their dark fur hides them under most lighting).

Author: Alyssia Doolabh