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The India Leopard
(Panthera pardus fusca)
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Size: |
body 4.25 to 6.25 ft., tail, 3.5 to
4.5 and 100- 200 pounds |
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Lifespan: |
Between 12 and 17 years |
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Wild Population: |
About 11,000 and
declining
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Family life and Breeding: |
Solitary, but
you may see mom with her cubs |
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Habitat: |
Forests and in the trees |
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How do they move: |
Stalk on the ground
and relax in the trees |
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What do they eat: |
Other animals like
boar and deer |
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Closest relatives: |
Big cats like the
tiger |
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Tie to humans:
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They are culturally
important in India and have made their way into myths, stories, and
artwork |
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photo M Noonan |
Cool fact:
Most leopards are light
colored with distinctive dark spots that are called rosettes that
look like black roses on golden-tan fur. There are also black
leopards, which appear to be almost solid black, but actually show
these spots in the sunlight. These leopards are known as black
panthers, but are actually the same species, just with different
coloring.
Conservation status:
Loss of habitat is
a huge problem for the leopard in India because they have nowhere to
live and they sometimes wander into cities and towns. They also eat
other animals so, hunting and habitat loss has made their prey
scarce. People also poach the leopard for their fur. All of these
are leading to a decrease in Indian leopards.
What is being done now?
Places like
Kaziranga National Wildlife Park serve as important havens for this
beautiful cat and are protected by armed men who follow strict
anti-poaching rules and protect these vital resources for the
leopard and all of the other Indian species that call it home.
Efforts have been made by the Forest Department in India to relocate
leopards that find their way into villages!
What should be done in the future?
More
land should be set aside for the leopard and when they wander into
cities people should put them back in the forest, not kill them or
put them in a cage. We need to make sure that the leopard has a
place to live!
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