Leopard

The Leopard (Panthera pardus) has an extremely broad distribution across Africa and South and Southeast Asia. Leopards are found throughout Africa where there is sufficient cover and from the Arabian Peninsula through Asia to Manchuria and Korea. In the African rainforests and Sri Lanka, the Leopard is the only large predator. The black spot seen in the center of each rosette on a Jaguar's coat is typically lacking in Leopards. Melanistic Leopards ("black panthers"; melanistic Jaguars may also be referred to by this name) sometimes occur in several parts of Africa, but are more common in Thailand, Malaysia, and Java (Indonesia). Leopards are found in an extraordinary range of habitats. In sub-Saharan Africa, they may be found in any habitats with annual rainfall greater than 50 mm, as well as along rivers penetrating true deserts. Leopards in the Kalahari Desert can reportedly go 10 days without drinking. In deserts with temperatures reaching 70 C, Leopards can survive by seeking shelter during the day in caves, animal burrows, and dense vegetation. In Central and West Africa, Leopards occur in rainforests receiving more than 1500 mm annual rainfall. Leopards are common throughout the Indian subcontinent in savannahs, acacia grasslands, deciduous and evergreen forests, and scrub woodlands. They may occur to 5200 m elevation in the mountains of Pakistan and Kashmir. In Southeast Asia, they occur in dense primary rainforest, among other habitats. In the Russian Far East, they may be found in forested mountainous regions where the snow is less than 15 cm deep. Leopards are capable of persisting in close proximity to humans. The diet of the Leopard is highly varied, including both large and small prey. It often consists mainly of small and medium-sized mammals (5 to 45 kg), but may range from large beetles to ungulates (hoofed mammals) several times their size. Most hunting occurs at night. Sunquist and Sunquist (2009) review the diet of Leopards as reported from different portions of their range. Like other felids (i.e., members of the cat family), Leopards commonly kill their prey with a bite to the throat, although smaller prey may be dispatched with a bite to the nape or back of the head. Large prey items may be dragged up into a tree and cached there, especially in Africa, where carcasses may otherwise be taken over by hyenas or lions. In Sri Lanka, where the Leopard is the only large carnivore, Leopards are reportedly often seen in open areas during the day. In the wild, mating associations last just a day or two. The gestation period is around 96 days and young are born at 400 to 600 g. Litter size is typically one to three young (usually two, maximum six). Young travel with their mother starting at three to six months (when they weigh around three or four kg) and begin to eat meat. Permanent canines are emerged at around seven to eight months and the young are typically independent by 12 to 18 months (athough sometimes significantly later). Sexual maturity is reached at two to three years of age. In some parts of their range, Leopards are endangered, whereas in other places they are considered pests. (Estes 1991; Sunquist and Sunquist 2009)

This species can be found in the Kalahari xeric savanna ecoregion. Here the Kalahari sands are generally nutrient poor, with a thin layer of iron oxide inducing a reddish-brown colour, although water leaching in areas of higher rainfall or near pans commonly causes the colour to fade. Diurnal temperature fluctuations in the Kalahari are extreme. In the southern part of the ecoregion, temperatures on winter nights can plummet to 1°C, while soaring to 30°C during the afternoon.

In less arid areas of this ecoregion, the vegetation is open savanna with grasses (Schmidtia spp., Stipagrostis spp., Aristida spp., and Eragrostis spp.) interrupted by trees such as Camelthorn (Acacia erioloba), Grey camelthorn (A. haematoxylon), Shepherd's tree (Boscia albitrunca), Kalahari sand-acacia (A. luederitzii), Blackthorn (A. mellifera), and Silver cluster-leaf (Terminalia sericea). Shrubs include Velvet raisin (Grewia flava), Ziziphus spp., Camphor bush (Tarchonanthus camphoratus), Rhigozum spp., Acacia hebeclada, and Lycium spp. In the more arid sectors, large trees typically are found in ancient riverbeds, and the rolling red dunes are sparsely populated by smaller A. erioloba, A. haematoxylon, and B. albitrunca, as well as broom scrub such asCrotalaria spartioides and Dune reed (Stipagrostis amabilis). Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), Gemsbok cucumber (Acanthosicyos naudinianus), and African wild cucumber (Cucumis africanus) are vital sources of water and food for humans and animals alike.

In addition to the Kalahari lion, the ecoregion boasts an impressive array of other large predators, mainly in protected areas. These include the Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus VU), Leopard (Panthera pardus), Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta LR) and Brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea LR), and Painted hunting dog (Lycaon pictus EN). The representation of smaller vertebrate predators is also remarkable. Among the mammals are the Aardwolf (Proteles cristata), Caracal (Felis caracal), Black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas), Honey badger (Mellivora capensis), African wildcat (Felis lybica), Black-footed cat (Felis nigripes), Striped polecat (Ictonyx striatus), Small-spotted genet (Genetta genetta), Bat-eared fox and Cape fox (Otocyon megalotis, Vulpes chama), as well as Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) and three species of mongoose: Banded (Mungos mungo), Slender mongoose (Herpestes sanguinea), and Yellow mongoose (Cynictis penicillata).

Mammalian herbivores include Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialisLR), Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus LR), Gemsbok, and Blue Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus LR), as well as Duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia), Springhare (Pedetes capensis), and Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis).

Avifauna include the massive nest builder Sociable weaver (up to six metres long and two metres high, weighing as much as 1000 kilograms, and housing up to 300 birds) are so well insulated that they substantially buffer the temperature extremes of the outside air. Raptors include the Secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius), various eagles including the Martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus), a gamut of owls, including Giant eagle owl (Bubo lacteus) and an array of falcons, goshawks, kestrels and kites.

Amongreptilian predators are the boomslang (Dispholidus typus typus), Cape cobra (Naja nivea), Puff adder (Bitis arietans), and Rock monitor (Varanus exanthematicus albigularis), as well as geckos, lizards, and skinks. As in many arid areas. Other snakes found in the ecoregion are the Angola garter snake (Elapsoidea semiannulata), the Angola python (Python anchietae), the Black-necked spitting cobra (Naja nigricollis) and the Black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis). Lizards found here include: Karoo girdled lizard (Cordylus polyzonus); African striped mabuya (Trachylepis striata); Anchieta's agama (Agama anchietae); and Blunt-tailed Worm Lizard (Dalophia pistillum). Geckos foundhere include the Bibron's thick-toed gecko (Chondrodactylus bibronii). The Namaqua chameleon (Chamaeleo namaquensis) is a representative chameleon found in the Kalahari xeric savanna.

As in most arid ecoregions, theamphibian fauna is not particularly species-rich in the Kalahari, but does include the Giant bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus) that has a omnivorous diet, preying on small birds, rodents, reptiles, and insects. Other anuran taxa present here are the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis); African ornate frog (Hildebrandtia ornata); Boettger's dainty frog (Cacosternum boettgeri); Red-spotted Namibia frog (Phrynomantis annectens); Mababe river frog (Phrynobatrachus mababiensis); Cryptic sand-frog (Tomopterna cryptotis); Kimberley toad (Amietophrynus poweri); Guttural toad (Amietophrynus gutturalis); and Knocking sand-frog (Tomopterna krugerensis.

The leopard is the smallest of four cats belonging to the Genus Panthera.Itsappearanceis similar to a jaguar but it is slightly smaller, stockier in build and its rosettes are smaller, more densely packed and usually do not have central spots. Ambiguously, both melanistic forms of leopards and jaguars are called black panthers.

These beautiful animals are phenomenally adapted to a wide range of habitats.It can run up to 58 km/hr, climb trees while carrying a carcass and is renowned for its stealth capabilities. Anopportunistic hunter, it will feed on any animal it can catch from arthropods to large antelopes the size of an eland.

Depending on region, leopards may mate all year round. A female typically gives birth to a litter of 2 – 4 cubs in a den in cave, boulder crevice or hollow tree. After 3 months, cubs will follow their mother on hunts. Mortality rate in cubs during their first year is at approximately 50%.

Leopards may have a wide range but their population is declining due to habitat loss and fragmentation.They are also hunted for trade and pest control.TheIUCNclassifies leopards as a Near Threatened species that may soon slip into the Vulnerable category.

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The Hindu Kush alpine meadow has an expanse of some 10,900 square miles, situated in northeastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan. Most of the lands lie within the Hindu Kush Mountain Range inthe altitude bracket between 3000 to 4000 meters, and correspondingly most of the precipitation is in the form of snow. This ecoregion is classified within the Montane Grasslands and Shrublands biome.

This ecoregion manifests a low rate of vertebrate endemism; however there are ten special status mammals found here, ranging from the status of Endangered to Near Threatened. The Hindu Kush alpine meadow ecoregion consists of higher elevation terrain of moderate to severe slopes. Vegetation is often sparse or almost lacking, with resulting pastoral usage of low intensity grazing of goats and sheep in some areas. Soils are largely leptosols, but many areas are covered by large expanses of rock outcrop or rocky scree. In the limited areas of arable soils, wheat is sometimes farmed, although growing of opium poppies is the only cash crop. Most of the water available for plant and animal life is supplied by snowmelt. The Helmand River, Afghanistan's largest watercourse, represents the chief catchment within the ecoregion, with headwaters rising in the Hindu Kush Range, and eventual discharge to the endorheic Sistan Basin.

Special status mammals found in the Hindu Kush alpine meadow are: the Near Threatened argali (Ovis ammon), the Vulnerable Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), the Near Threatened European otter (Lutra lutra), the Near Threatened leopard (Panthera pardus), the Endangered markhor (Capra falconeri), the Near Threatened mountain weasel (Mustela altaica), the Near Threatened Schreiber's long-fingered bat (Miniopteris schreibersi), the Endangered snow leopard (Uncia uncia), the Near Threatened striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) and the Endangered Moschus leucogaster. Special status birds in the Hindu Kush alpine meadow are represented by the Endangered Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopteris).