Among the group of felines, we find leopards (Panthera pardus), agile predators native to both Africa and Asia. They are distinguished by their body patterns and beautiful coats, formed by black rosettes. Eight subspecies have been identified, a classification that has varied over time as studies in this regard advance. One of the subspecies is the Indian leopard (P.p. fusca), typical of the subcontinent for which it bears the common name.
Do you want to know all the characteristics of the Indian leopard? Keep reading this file on our site and get to know the most outstanding aspects of this feline.
Characteristics of the Indian Leopard
There are several characteristics of the Indian leopard that differentiate it from other types of leopard, such as its size or the rosettes. Let's get to know them below:
- Starting with the size of the Indian leopard, males are larger and weigh more than females, with values around 2 and 2, 3 meters in lengthy from about 50 to 80 kg As for females, they do not usually exceed 1.2 meters in length and reach weights of one just over 30 kg.
- The legs are strong.
- The tail is long, in fact, it can measure up to almost a meter of the total length of the animal.
- The ears are short and rounded.
- The eyes are small and yellow in color.
- The snout is broad, with a powerful jaw.
- The coat pattern is unique to each individual, formed by large black rosettes, which decrease towards the belly of the animal.
- When young, they appear darker because the rosettes are denser and closer together.
- The color of the coat can vary depending on the habitat, being between light yellow when they live in more arid areas, golden in jungle spaces or more grayish in cold environments.
Indian Leopard Habitat
The Indian leopard inhabits regions such as India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Himalayan forests, Bangladesh, and Tibet, although in In some cases, their presence may be associated with incursions made by some individuals rather than with populations typical of the area, as in the case of Bangladesh.
The habitat can be formed by very dense wooded areas, which correspond to tropical forests, deciduous forests, even cold forests of coniferous and arid zones. This is data that corresponds to the species in general, which can diversify in different habitats. It is present in some reserves and national parks within the subcontinent, as well as staying close to certain suburban areas.
Indian Leopard Customs
The Indian leopard is an animal mainly nocturnal, with habits solitary, with great agility to climb, run up to almost 60 km/h, make great jumps of about 3 meters high and up to about 6 meters long.
Male males tend to have larger expansion areas than females, which can even be twice as extensive. The latter, in addition, tend to reduce their expansion even more when they are with their puppies. Normally, the leopard is displaced by the tiger from certain areas where they overlap, so the former is forced to move to other places.
On the other hand, although he doesn't like getting into the water so much, he is a good swimmer, who defends himself very well in the water. During the day, it often climbs trees, where it spends much of its time resting.
Indian leopard feeding
The Indian leopard, like the rest of the felines, is a carnivore, in fact, a great predator within the ecosystems that inhabits. Their diet is very broad and depends on the potential prey that exists. It can hunt large prey, as it has the strength in both its legs and jaws to catch it. It is common that once the animal is captured, it climbs a tree to eat.
Among the various species that this Indian leopard feeds on we find:
- Deer
- Antelopes
- Boars
- Monkeys
- Hares
- Birds
- Reptiles
- Domestic animals
Don't miss this other article in which we explain What leopards eat.
Indian leopard reproduction
These leopards can reproduce throughout the year, although depending on the region they can have reproductive peaks. Females have heat cycles that last about 7 days and are repeated every 46 days approximately. Gestation has an average time of 97 days, then the female looks for a den in caves or logs to give birth, from which between 2 and 4 puppies are born, the which are blind around the first 7-9 days.
At three months the cubs follow their mother and begin to learn hunting techniques; a year they can fend for themselves, but as is generally the case with leopards, they stay with their parent until they are 18-24 months old.
Conservation status of the Indian leopard
The leopard as a species is considered in the vulnerable category and there are some subspecies classified in particular categories by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, the Indian leopard maintains the same general classification, which indicates that it is under certain pressures.
Among the threats faced by the Indian leopard we find that hunting and tradeare the main reasons that affect the population. On the other hand, in areas with human populations there are conflicts with these felines, which unfortunately end up being exterminated. Likewise, many natural prey that are part of the leopard's diet have decreased considerably, so this also ends up affecting this animal.
The main population estimate made a few years ago to have a quantification of the subspecies considers that there must be less than 10,000 mature individuals.
The inclusion in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the prohibition of hunting and protection within protected areas, include some of the main actions that seek to generate the conservation of the Indian leopard.
