GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES

Leopard are the smallest of the “big” cats – the other three being lion, tiger, and jaguar. Leopard have spots arranged in rosettes. Males weigh between 60 – 80 kg and females 35 – 45 kg. They have relatively short legs, long body, long tail, and a large head. A leopard can run at about 60 km/h but may attain a charge speed over a short distance of close to 70 km/h. They are extremely powerful animals for their size (Figure: 1 and 2).

BEHAVIOUR AND HABITS

Leopards are intelligent, shrewd and crafty animals and beautiful to boot. They are real survivors. In support of this statement is the fact that these animals often live in close proximity to or even within human settlements without people even being aware of their presence. Hunting leopard is not as easy an undertaking as some would lead us to believe. Their suspicious and retiring nature, combined with finely honed senses, make this species one of the more challenging of predators to hunt.

They have excellent hearing and eyesight and a reasonable sense of smell. They will quickly and silently melt away into the undergrowth if they become aware of humans approaching (that is of course if they have not chosen to select man as a prey species) and hunting them on foot is not a realistic proposition – especially if time is a limiting factor. Another aspect which makes these animals difficult to hunt is that they are, by and large, creatures of the night – they are in their element in the dark.

Occasionally they will become active at dusk and may be observed returning to their secretive haunts just before or at daybreak. Although daylight sightings of leopard are not frequent they are also not uncommon. The fortunate wildlife enthusiast or hunter may occasionally find a leopard during the day resting on some rocky outcrop or suspended atop a tree limb in a state of regal repose (Figure 3).

There are many records of leopards in Africa and India having become man killers and they can be notoriously dangerous when wounded as many hunters have discovered to their dismay (Figure 4).

According to records of the Zimbabwean Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management  leopard account for no less than 86% of recorded injuries sustained to PH’s, their clients, or trackers making it one of the most dangerous animals to hunt.  Jim Corbett was a well-known professional hunter who wrote a number of books on his exploits in dispatching man eating leopards and tigers in India (Figure 5)

The average litter size is 2 -3 cubs and the young remain with the mother for 18 – 24 months. They are highly protective of their young.

Leopard feed on birds, reptiles, and mammals – from the size of rats and mice to porcupine, warthog, impala and the young of larger antelope. Leopard drink daily when water is available but can survive on moisture obtained from prey animals for a reasonable period. They are solitary except when courting or mating.

HUNTING THE SPECIES

Conservation status

Leopard are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because populations are declining in large parts of their previous range. They are threatened by habitat loss, pest control, and illegal hunting (poaching).  

Leopard permits are sometimes issued when a local leopard has become a “problem” and is killing domestic livestock.

Cost to hunt

Prices may vary from country to country. The figures below are an example.

• South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia: $4 700 (trophy fee – not including daily rates and other fees – 14 day hunt)
• Tanzania: $6 000 (trophy fee – not including daily rates – 21 day hunt)

Foreign hunters wishing to export/import a leopard trophy would require a CITES permit if the animal was hunted south of Gabon, Congo, Zaire, Uganda, and Kenya.

Leopard may not be hunted with a bow in Namibia and South Africa.

Sign and tracking

Leopard will indicate their presence in a number of ways. They can be vocal at times and their hoarse “sawing” grunt (almost always at night) used to advertise territory, will confirm their presence. Other leopard sign include tracks and scats. Leopard tracks are described as “paws without claws”. They have five toes on the front feet (including dewclaws) and four on the hind feet.  This does not mean they do not have claws.

They most decidedly do and they are extremely effective weapons of attack or defence, it is just that when walking normally the claws are retracted into sheaths and do not register in the track. The spoor is 70-100mm in length and shows four toes on both front and rear and there is usually no sign of claws (the dew claws on the front feet sits too high to register in the track). The pad in the print shows three clearly defined lobes along the trailing edge. See Figure 6.

The size of the track is bigger than adult caracal or serval but much smaller than an adult lion. Although very similar to these three species the leopard track may be distinguished by its size and more rounded shape as compared to lion. If leopard are present in an area, spoor is often found along roads, tracks, dry riverbeds (Figure 7), and around waterhole as these animals, like other cats, are not too fond of “bundu bashing” especially in wet grass or undergrowth.

Leopard scat is described as sausage shaped, segmented and with a tapered end. The diameter is about 20-40mm. It usually contains a large amount of hair and undigested bones and hooves are sometimes also present. The colour, when fresh is olive to light brown becoming darker at first as it ages and finally turning to creamy white. See Figure 8. 

Feeding sign is another clue to leopard activity. Prone to kill more than it can immediately consume leopard often haul their prey up into a tree where it is firmly secured in a convenient fork to keep it away from scavengers and to be returned to at a later time (see Figure 9).

Claw marks are usually evident in on tree trunks into which prey has been hoisted (Figure 10).

The power of these cats becomes evident when they haul fairly large species – often weighing more than themselves – up into trees. If prey has been left on the ground leopard will hide it by covering it with vegetation. Signs of leopard feeding are also the following: the prey animal is eaten from the buttocks end and the shoulder. Internal organs are consumed but stomach and intestines are discarded and often buried under debris. If driven by hunger, leopard will eat carrion.

Territorial marking is another sign to be on the lookout for. Leopard make use of urine, combined with scratching with the hind feet, to mark territories (see Figure 11).

When fresh, the urine gives off a pungent, easily discernible odour and the scratch marks are clearly visible.

REFERENCES

Cheney, C.S. (2013) The Comprehensive Guide to Tracking – Safari Press

Mellon, L. (1975) African Hunter –Harcourt Brace Jovanovich New York and London

Robertson, K. (1999) The Perfect Shot – Safari Press

Robertson, K (2007) Africa’s Most Dangerous – Safari Press