Leopard in South Africa |
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The African leopard ( Panthera pardus)
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The Big Five |
The leopard must be the most sort after animals sighting of Africa as the illusive animal appear and disappear at will before your eye. This predator is uniquely adapted to blend in with its surroundings as it lay on a branch in the shade of a tree.
Its spots allow it to camouflage itself against the weary eyes of its prey.
Diet description: Leopard feed on a wide variety of vertebrate that varies from small mice and insects to large antelope and even small giraffe. Fish, birds and reptiles will also be cough if available.
Socialization: Both sexes are solitary animals with large territory, the males territories are much larger then the females territories and is situated to such an extent than several female territories is located with in the males home range
The african leopard is a formidable predator which you can not afford to under estimate as this cat is pound for pound one of the strongest predators on the african continent.
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Buffalo
Elephant
Leopard
Lion
Rhinoceros |
| Leopard Stats |
Weight 20 -80kg
Diet: wide range of vertebrate varying from mice to baby giraffe
Reproduction: 1-6 cubs usually 2
Gestation 100 days
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| Predators |
| Lion, Hyena |
| Best caliber for hunting leopard |
African Leopards is a hardy animals that demands respect irrespective if you are hunting them or not! With all of the big five it is important that you shot placement is perfect and you should have nerves of steel.
The African leopard is definitely a one of the most dangerous animals in the world to hunt, your option of hunting caliber and ammunition is crucial to your success. The rifle caliber best used for hunting leopard would be .375 and heavier with heavy grain ammunition which should be solid or at least reinforced. |
| African Leopard as management tool |
African Leopard can be a very interesting management tool on a game ranch or reserve especially if hunting is not a option. predators is the natural population controllers of nature. African leopard is very effective in controlling certain animals species numbers, but is very difficult to keep in the protected areas as these animals have very large ranges.
Using predators in small reserves as ungulate population control is not effective as they hunt which is the easiest and not what is most advantages to the whole of the reserve. |
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