ProjectProject

Animals in Animals in extinction extinction (Leopard)(Leopard)

Basic leopard Basic leopard facts:facts:

Leopards are the smallest of the big cats — averaging 28 Leopards are the smallest of the big cats — averaging 28 inches (71 centimeters) at shoulder height — but they're also inches (71 centimeters) at shoulder height — but they're also the most successful. They're stealthy hunters and resourceful the most successful. They're stealthy hunters and resourceful scavengers, and they can adapt to almost any environment.scavengers, and they can adapt to almost any environment.

The color and length of a leopard's fur can vary depending The color and length of a leopard's fur can vary depending on where it lives. Leopards in the savanna, for example, will on where it lives. Leopards in the savanna, for example, will have yellow or orange fur, while the fur of desert leopards is have yellow or orange fur, while the fur of desert leopards is lighter. Leopards from cold climates have longer, grayer fur, lighter. Leopards from cold climates have longer, grayer fur, and rainforest leopards have golden coats.Leopards' spots, and rainforest leopards have golden coats.Leopards' spots, called rosettes, can be either round or square to help them called rosettes, can be either round or square to help them blend in even better with their surroundings.Leopards eat blend in even better with their surroundings.Leopards eat anything from carcasses, fish and reptiles to mammals such anything from carcasses, fish and reptiles to mammals such as baboons, antelopes, hares and rodents. Of all the big cat as baboons, antelopes, hares and rodents. Of all the big cat species, leopards are the best climbers.They're also strong species, leopards are the best climbers.They're also strong swimmers, and they'll sometimes catch fish and swimmers, and they'll sometimes catch fish and crabs.Leopards are solitary, elusive and skillful predators. crabs.Leopards are solitary, elusive and skillful predators.

Where leopards Where leopards live:live:

Most leopards are found in the grasslands of Most leopards are found in the grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa, but they also cover other sub-Saharan Africa, but they also cover other areas of Africa, the Middle East and Asia.areas of Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Dense brush in rocky areas and forests are their Dense brush in rocky areas and forests are their favorite hangouts, but they can adapt to almost favorite hangouts, but they can adapt to almost any environment, from tropical rainforests to any environment, from tropical rainforests to deserts, mountains and the outskirts of cities. deserts, mountains and the outskirts of cities. Leopards are the only big cats that can live in Leopards are the only big cats that can live in both deserts and rainforests.both deserts and rainforests.

  

Conservation status:Conservation status: Near  Near ThreatenedThreatened

As a species, leopards aren't endangered, but some As a species, leopards aren't endangered, but some subspecies are in trouble, especially those that live subspecies are in trouble, especially those that live outside of Africa. For example, only about 30 Amur outside of Africa. For example, only about 30 Amur leopards, which are native to southwestern Russia, leopards, which are native to southwestern Russia, remain in the wild.remain in the wild.

The more threatened subspecies of leopard include:The more threatened subspecies of leopard include: P. pardus kotiyaP. pardus kotiya (Sri Lanka leopard) – Endangered (Sri Lanka leopard) – Endangered P. pardus melasP. pardus melas (Javan leopard) – Critically  (Javan leopard) – Critically

EndangeredEndangered P. pardus nimrP. pardus nimr (Arabian leopard) – Critically  (Arabian leopard) – Critically

EndangeredEndangered P. pardus orientalisP. pardus orientalis (Amur leopard) – Critically  (Amur leopard) – Critically

EndangeredEndangered P. pardussaxicolorP. pardussaxicolor(Persian leopard) – Endangered(Persian leopard) – Endangered

…………………………………………………………………………..

Experts think there are about half a Experts think there are about half a million leopards living around the million leopards living around the globe — 10 times more than lions, globe — 10 times more than lions, tigers and cheetahs combined. They're tigers and cheetahs combined. They're declining in large parts of their range, declining in large parts of their range, though, due to habitat loss and though, due to habitat loss and poaching for their coats and whiskers. poaching for their coats and whiskers.

Threats Threats  Throughout Africa, the major threats to Leopard are Throughout Africa, the major threats to Leopard are

habitat conversion and intense persecution, especially habitat conversion and intense persecution, especially in retribution for real and perceived livestock loss. In in retribution for real and perceived livestock loss. In intact rainforest, the chief threat to Leopards is intact rainforest, the chief threat to Leopards is probably competition with human hunters for prey; probably competition with human hunters for prey; the tremendous volume of wild meat harvests the tremendous volume of wild meat harvests denudes forests of prey and may drive localized denudes forests of prey and may drive localized extinctions. Nonetheless, Leopard are somewhat extinctions. Nonetheless, Leopard are somewhat tolerant of habitat conversion, and may persist close tolerant of habitat conversion, and may persist close to large human populations provided they have to large human populations provided they have suitable cover and prey.The impact of trophy hunting suitable cover and prey.The impact of trophy hunting on populations is unclear, but may have impacts at on populations is unclear, but may have impacts at the demographic and population level, especially the demographic and population level, especially when females are shot. when females are shot.

…………………………………………………………………….... In Tanzania, which allows only males to be hunted, In Tanzania, which allows only males to be hunted,

females comprised 28.6% of 77 trophies shot between females comprised 28.6% of 77 trophies shot between 1995 and 1998.Skins and canines are still widely 1995 and 1998.Skins and canines are still widely traded domestically in some central and West African traded domestically in some central and West African countries where parts are used in traditional rituals countries where parts are used in traditional rituals and sold openly in villages and cities. Djibouti is an and sold openly in villages and cities. Djibouti is an important conduit for Leopard skins from East Africa important conduit for Leopard skins from East Africa that are bought mainly by French military personnel that are bought mainly by French military personnel and carried illegally to Europe. In West Asia, small and carried illegally to Europe. In West Asia, small leopard subpopulations are threatened primarily by leopard subpopulations are threatened primarily by habitat fragmentation, killing in defence of livestock, habitat fragmentation, killing in defence of livestock, and poaching for trade.In Indo-Malaya, leopards are and poaching for trade.In Indo-Malaya, leopards are threatened primarily by habitat loss (deforestation) as threatened primarily by habitat loss (deforestation) as well as poaching for illegal trade. In India, leopards well as poaching for illegal trade. In India, leopards are feared for their attacks on people.are feared for their attacks on people.

Conservation Conservation Actions Actions  Included on CITES Appendix I. Legal international traffic is Included on CITES Appendix I. Legal international traffic is

limited largely to exports of skins and hunting trophies under a limited largely to exports of skins and hunting trophies under a CITES Appendix I quota system by 13 African countries CITES Appendix I quota system by 13 African countries (2005 CITES quota is 2,590). Leopards are protected under (2005 CITES quota is 2,590). Leopards are protected under national legislation throughout most of their range (Nowell national legislation throughout most of their range (Nowell and Jackson 1996). In Africa, although Leopards occur in and Jackson 1996). In Africa, although Leopards occur in numerous protected areas across their range, the majority of numerous protected areas across their range, the majority of the population occurs outside of protected areas, necessitating the population occurs outside of protected areas, necessitating a need for improved conflict mitigation measures. In West a need for improved conflict mitigation measures. In West Asia, leopards are essentially restricted to protected areas, Asia, leopards are essentially restricted to protected areas, many of which are too small to support viable populations, many of which are too small to support viable populations, and need expansion through buffer zones and connectivity and need expansion through buffer zones and connectivity through corridors (Breitenmoser through corridors (Breitenmoser et al.et al. 2006, 2007). In Indo- 2006, 2007). In Indo-Malaya and China, leopards need better protection from illegal Malaya and China, leopards need better protection from illegal trade in skins and bones (Nowell 2007). Leopards are trade in skins and bones (Nowell 2007). Leopards are protected in Afghanistan having recently been placed on the protected in Afghanistan having recently been placed on the countrys Protected Species List (2009), prohibiting all hunting countrys Protected Species List (2009), prohibiting all hunting and trading of the species within Afghanistan. and trading of the species within Afghanistan.