Leopards are the most adaptable and widely distributed cat species which helps them survive anywhere from tall grasses, dense or sparse forests, or even mountain cliffs (Dhungana et. al, 2019). They have the broadest and most diverse diet of all the large predators, having around 92 to over 100 prey species (Hayward, 2006; Panthera Leopard, 2020). Leopards need to eat between 1.6 and 4.9 kilograms of meat per day which balances out to about 40 prey items per year (Hayward, 2006). The most popular prey for leopards are impala, bushbuck, and common duiker (Hayward, 2006). Cats want to kill wild prey and avoid livestock due to human retribution (Khorozyan et al., 2015). Leopards like to prey on species within a weight range of 10-40 kg, with their most common prey weighing around 25kg (Hayward, 2006).
Leopards have an estimated average of 59% decline in their prey populations across 78 protected areas, not including non protected areas (AWF Leopard, 2020). Leopards are losing their prey from habitat loss and the bushmeat trade (Panthera Leopard, 2020). The bushmeat trade kills the leopard prey and also injuries or kills the leopard when they become caught and entangled in the wire snares that are set up to catch other species (Panthera Leopard, 2020). Normal hunting of leopard prey is another reason for prey loss (SDZG Leopard, 2020).
Unfortunately, because leopards are opportunistic hunters, they tend to come into a lot of conflicts with humans accusing them of predating on livestock. Leopards tend to be blamed for livestock loss but studies have shown that leopards are not hunting on livestock (Grey et. al, 2017). One study found that out of 100 different leopard scat samples, only 0.8% had livestock as a part of their diet, but they are being accused of taking much more livestock than that (Grey et. al, 2017). In Nepal leopards do eat livestock, but it is because they are getting pushed out of their territories by tigers which increases the likelihood of them predating on livestock (Dhungana et. al, 2019). In both Africa and Asia territories Leopards will only kill cattle when they are the top predator, meaning there are no lions or tigers in the area (Khorozyan et. al, 2015). However, leopards will kill more sheep and goats when coexisting with lions or tigers (Khorozyan, et. al, 2015). Environmental changes affect the vegetation and animals that eat it, which in turn affect the cats that prey upon those animals (Turner, 1997).
Leopards are solitary hunters and they stalk and close in on their prey (Turner, 1997). Group hunting, like how lions hunt, would provide no benefit due to the fact that once detected there is very little chance of the leopard capturing its prey (Hayward, 2006). Leopards are opportunistic hunters which benefits them since they are spread out among several different habitats (Grey et al., 2017). In open habitat, leopards will hunt at night by stalking their prey and having a short sprint to catch and kill their prey (Hayward, 2006). Conversely, in rainforests leopards will hunt diurnally and ambush their prey (Hayward, 2006).
*Leopard in photograph is a female leopard in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, Africa. Photo taken by Helene Hoffman. Visit her Flickr page.
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