Posted by admin | Posted in vacation rentals | Posted on 16-03-2007
Tags: 2008, france, holfrance, holiday, personal
Leopard is one of the most adaptable of all species in Africa, surviving where many other species can not. Being very shy and secretive there is often no obvious sign of their presence unless they start to kill domestic animals. They prey on any thing from mice to Kudu and Wildebeest. They are also scavengers and will readily feed on any carrion that they find. Leopards are well known for their taste for dog flesh and will often take domestic dogs as prey. In rare cases Leopards have become man-eaters preying mainly on women and small children. If a Leopard is cornered, they will charge and only a fatal bullet will stop him. When the Leopard charges he will come in low and without a sound, and because he is so well camouflaged, it is very difficult to pick him up before he gets to you.
Appearance:
Leopards have black spots arranged in rosettes, contrasted on a yellow-golden background. They have single black spots on their limbs and head. Their tails are white tipped on the underside. This Cat is larger and stockier built than the Cheetah. Their head and body length is 1.6 – 2.1 m, and the tail is 0.68-1.1 m.
Females are smaller and weigh 17-60 Kg whereas males weigh 20-90 Kg. Their standing height is 700-800 mm at the shoulders. This nocturnal predator is the second largest of AfricaÂ’s large Cats.
Diet:
A varied diet ensures that the Leopard is able to adjust to just about anything. Although Leopards generally feed on medium and small antelopes, they have also have been known to feed on Hyrax, Baboon, Fox, fish and reptiles. There are even accounts of Leopards living off a diet of insects and rodents in times of scarcity. Leopards are so adaptable that they have even been known to survive on the outskirts of towns and villages.
Breeding:
Young are born any time of the year as they are non-seasonal breeders. Leopard cubs are born after a gestation period of three and a half months and females usually give birth to two or three cubs in hidden lairs of natural holes or thick bush. The Leopard mother takes great care to hide the cubs from predators like Lion, Cheetah and Hyena, who would jump at the chance to make an easy meal of the cubs. Cubs stay with the mother for at least a year, during which time they learn the ways of the wild and how to survive on their own.
Behavior:
They lie up in hiding during the day and hunt at night. Their hunting technique entails stalking and pouncing, killing larger prey with a holding bite to the throat which asphyxiates larger prey. Smaller prey are killed by a bite to the back of the neck which usually severs the spinal cord. They pluck fur off the carcass before starting to feed on the softer parts of the body.
The remains of the catch and stomach contents will be covered with grass and sand. They are agile climbers and when there is competition from other predators the carcass will be cached out of reach in the fork of a large tree. Males defend large territories which overlap the territories of two or even three females. Females defend their territories against other females.
Habitat:
The Leopard tolerates variable climatic conditions and occurs in a wide range of habitats. Found from coastal areas to elevations of 2000 m above sea level in forests, deserts, semi-deserts, bushveld, mountains, woodlands and rocky areas. They are not dependant on surface water.
This master of stealth needs some form of cover such as thick bush or rocks. Though they diminished in numbers over the years, Leopards are still found in wild mountains and thick bush throughout South Africa, except for the intensively farmed central interior.
Where they are found:
Leopards can be viewed in their natural habitat in a number of game reserves throughout South Africa. These include the Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga and Pilanesberg National Park in the North West Province. Isolated Leopard populations can even be found in the Drakensberg Mountain Range and on many private game reserves and farms throughout South Africa.
Latin name: Panthera Pardus
Leopard featured in the following areas:
Augrabies Falls National Park, Ben Alberts Reserve, Ben Lavin Reserve, Borakalalo National Park, Caprivi Reserve, Chizarira Park, Chobe Park, Daan Viljoen Reserve, Doorndraaidam Reserve, Etosha National Park, Gamkaberg Reserve, Gamkapoort Nature Reserve, Gemsbok Park, Giants Castle Reserve, Gona-re-zhou Reserve, Gorongosa Reserve, Hans Merensky Reserve, Hans Strydom Reserve, Hardapdam Reserve, Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park, Hwange National Park, Ithala Reserve, Kalahari Gemsbok Park, Kaudom Reserve, Keurboom Reserve, Khutse Reserve, Kruger Park, Langjan Reserve, Lapalala Reserve, Mabuasehu Reserve, Madikwe Game Reserve, Mahango Reserve, Makalali Reserve, Mala Mala, Mamili Reserve, Manapools Park, Manyeleti Reserve, Maputo Elephant Park, Marakele Reserve, Mashatu Reserve, Matetsi Reserve, Matobo Reserve, Matusadona Park, Mesina Reserve, Milwane Reserve, Moremi Reserve, Mudumu Reserve, Naukluft Park, Ndumo Reserve, Nxaipan Reserve, Nyala Ranch Reserve, Nyanga Reserve, Nylsvley Reserve, Oribi Gorge Reserve, PercyFyfe Reserve, Phinda Reserve, Pilanesberg National Park, Richtersveld Park, Royal Natal Reserve, Rustenburg Reserve, Sabi Sabi Game Reserve, St Lucia Wetlands Reserve, Suikerbosrand Reserve, Tembe Reserve, Timbavati Reserve, Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park, Vernon Crookes Reserve, Von Bach Reserve, Waterberg Plato Reserve, Zuurberg Reserve.
Gerald Crawford was born in South Africa, studied electronics, telecommunication, eco-travel and african travel concepts. He taught responsible tourism in South Africa. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me on. E-mail Address: southafricantravelarticles@12234455.co.za Website Address: http://www.12234455.co.za
Beach Holiday in St Tropez Pampelonne Beach Accommodation
