Leopards

Leopards are wild cats that live in many different places throughout the world. Leopards are found living in the rainforests, woodlands, plains, and deserts. Leopards live in China, India, Africa, Siberia, as well as Southeast Asia. Leopards are a threatened species because they are hunted, they do not have enough food, and because their habitats are being destroyed.

An adult leopard can weigh from 65 to almost 180 pounds. They are long and lean wild cats. The female leopard is smaller than the male leopard. The tail of a leopard is long and can get up to three feet long.

When a leopard cub is born, it is the color gray. As the leopard grows, its fur will become darker. Some leopards have dark rosettes on a background. This makes them look black. These are called black leopards. On other leopards, there are dark rosettes but a lighter background.

Leopards are nocturnal animals, which means they typically hunt at night. They are also carnivores, which mean they eat meat. They hunt mammals, reptiles, fish, and birds. The leopard will also eat carrion. These are opportunistic animals that actively hunt their prey.

The leopard is capable of running as fast as 40 miles per hour for brief periods. It is also an adept swimmer. The leopard is very agile and can jump up to 20 feet long horizontally or 10 feet high vertically. The leopard is very powerful and has strong limbs with a heavy torso and thick neck.