Leopard: Dressed to Kill

The lights dim… there’s a hush. A model sashays down the Parisian catwalk, her perfect figure sinuously moving under the velvety fawn gown, showing off the rosettes –
signature black rosettes. She stops midway down the ramp – for effect. Applause… stifled catcalls… camera flash bulbs pop. The mimic has made a killing.

Thousands of miles away, deep in an Indian jungle, the original beauty has been patiently waiting her turn in the dark, looking down the bough of a tree with mesmerizing eyes - eyes that lend her night vision six times better than that of humans.

The almost inaudible sound of a grazing impala comes within her hearing range – a range twice that of humans.

Suddenly, without warning, the leopard pounces. The impala freezes for a moment as if hypnotized, but it’s already too late. With a fatal bite to the neck, the impala is dead in the blink of an eye. The leopard drags it to the treetop for the feast – the stillness of the night unbroken.

Leopards hunt by night, alone. Males make a kill every three days and females with young, at double the frequency. However, they can live without water for long periods, on prey alone.

With a powerful and compact build, mottled camouflage, excellent hearing and night vision, leopards can silently attack and kill prey more than twice their own weight.

In the day, they rest in trees and sunbathe on rocks - both providing good vantage points.

Though solitary, leopards are territorial, defending a territory ranging from 30 sq km up to 200 sq km. Territories are marked with urine and claw marks on trees as well as by roaring.

The male may have to fight other contestants for claiming his mate, though it’s a one-night stand! Afterwards, the pair breaks up – each going its separate way.

The cubs are born in just over three months and are nursed by the mother for another three months before they are able to eat from her kills. At this time, the cubs start practicing stalking and frequently fight playfully among themselves.

When they are about one and a half years old, they are ready to venture out to stake claim to their own territories.

Copyright © 2007 Noël Gama
www.noelgama.com