Sri Lankan leopard
This leopard lives at Banham zoo in Norfolk.
The Sri Lankan leopard was first described in 1956 by Sri Lankan zoologist Paules Edward Pieris Deraniyagala.
The Sri Lankan leopard has a tawny or rusty yellow coat with dark spots and close-set rosettes, the pattern of which are unique to each individual. This leopard has allegedly evolved to become a rather large leopard subspecies, because it is an apex predator without competition from other large wild cat species in the country. The average weight of a male is 124 lb. (56 kg) and they an average head-to-body-length of 4 ft. 2 in. (1.27 m) with a 86 cm (2 ft .10 in. (0.86 m) long tail. Females average a weight of 64 lb. (29 kg) and have a head-to-body-length of 3 ft. 5 in. (1.04 m) with a 2 ft. 6.5 in. (0.77 m) long tail.
Sri Lankan leopards lead a solitary life, with the exception of females with young. Male's ranges typically overlap the smaller ranges of several females, as well as portions of the ranges of neighbouring males. It is still found in a range of habitats from open savannah to rainforests throughout Sri Lanka, in both protected and unprotected areas. In the central hills, they occur in forest patches, tea estates, grasslands, home gardens, and pine and eucalyptus plantations
They prefer to hunt at night, but are also active during dawn, dusk, and daytime hours. They hunt by silently stalking their prey, until they are within striking distance when they unleash a burst of speed to quickly pursue and pounce on their victim. The prey is usually dispatched with a single bite to the throat. Sri Lankan axis deer make up the majority of their diet but they also prey on sambar, barking deer, wild boar, and monkeys. their diet can also include small mammals, birds, and reptiles,
Unlike other leopards, Sri Lankan leopards rarely haul their kills into trees, which is likely due to the lack of competition and the relative abundance of prey.
They breed throughout the year. The gestation period lasts between 90 and 105 days, yielding from 2 to 4 cubs. Females give birth in a cave, crevice among boulders, hollow trees, or thicket. Cubs are born with closed eyes, which open 4 to 9 days after birth. Being extremely vulnerable in the wild, the cubs remain hidden, living in a secluded place, covered with dense vegetation. By the age of 6 to 8 weeks, the young attain their dark, woolly coat, covered with blurry patches, which serves young leopards as camouflage, allowing them to follow their mother around. Reaching the age of 3 months, the cubs are weaned and accompanying their mother on hunts. On the whole, they remain with their mother for 18 to 24 months, after which they leave to find their own territories. A cub can expect a lifespan of 12 years in the wild, and up to 22 years in captivity.
Sri Lankan leopards are primarily threatened by increasing habitat loss and fragmentation, together with an increasing risk of human-induced mortality. They are killed by people either accidentally in wire snares set for other species, or as retaliation after livestock killings, usually through poisoning the livestock carcass. They are also occasionally shot. Since 2010, over 90 leopards are known to have been killed by people in Sri Lanka.
In of 2015, the total population of Sri Lankan leopards was 700 to 950 individuals and it was classified as 'Endangered' on the IUCN Red List. Since 2020 it has been listed as 'Vulnerable' as the population is estimated at less than 800 mature individuals, and although found in many protected areas, the population is still decreasing.
Sri Lankan leopard
This leopard lives at Banham zoo in Norfolk.
The Sri Lankan leopard was first described in 1956 by Sri Lankan zoologist Paules Edward Pieris Deraniyagala.
The Sri Lankan leopard has a tawny or rusty yellow coat with dark spots and close-set rosettes, the pattern of which are unique to each individual. This leopard has allegedly evolved to become a rather large leopard subspecies, because it is an apex predator without competition from other large wild cat species in the country. The average weight of a male is 124 lb. (56 kg) and they an average head-to-body-length of 4 ft. 2 in. (1.27 m) with a 86 cm (2 ft .10 in. (0.86 m) long tail. Females average a weight of 64 lb. (29 kg) and have a head-to-body-length of 3 ft. 5 in. (1.04 m) with a 2 ft. 6.5 in. (0.77 m) long tail.
Sri Lankan leopards lead a solitary life, with the exception of females with young. Male's ranges typically overlap the smaller ranges of several females, as well as portions of the ranges of neighbouring males. It is still found in a range of habitats from open savannah to rainforests throughout Sri Lanka, in both protected and unprotected areas. In the central hills, they occur in forest patches, tea estates, grasslands, home gardens, and pine and eucalyptus plantations
They prefer to hunt at night, but are also active during dawn, dusk, and daytime hours. They hunt by silently stalking their prey, until they are within striking distance when they unleash a burst of speed to quickly pursue and pounce on their victim. The prey is usually dispatched with a single bite to the throat. Sri Lankan axis deer make up the majority of their diet but they also prey on sambar, barking deer, wild boar, and monkeys. their diet can also include small mammals, birds, and reptiles,
Unlike other leopards, Sri Lankan leopards rarely haul their kills into trees, which is likely due to the lack of competition and the relative abundance of prey.
They breed throughout the year. The gestation period lasts between 90 and 105 days, yielding from 2 to 4 cubs. Females give birth in a cave, crevice among boulders, hollow trees, or thicket. Cubs are born with closed eyes, which open 4 to 9 days after birth. Being extremely vulnerable in the wild, the cubs remain hidden, living in a secluded place, covered with dense vegetation. By the age of 6 to 8 weeks, the young attain their dark, woolly coat, covered with blurry patches, which serves young leopards as camouflage, allowing them to follow their mother around. Reaching the age of 3 months, the cubs are weaned and accompanying their mother on hunts. On the whole, they remain with their mother for 18 to 24 months, after which they leave to find their own territories. A cub can expect a lifespan of 12 years in the wild, and up to 22 years in captivity.
Sri Lankan leopards are primarily threatened by increasing habitat loss and fragmentation, together with an increasing risk of human-induced mortality. They are killed by people either accidentally in wire snares set for other species, or as retaliation after livestock killings, usually through poisoning the livestock carcass. They are also occasionally shot. Since 2010, over 90 leopards are known to have been killed by people in Sri Lanka.
In of 2015, the total population of Sri Lankan leopards was 700 to 950 individuals and it was classified as 'Endangered' on the IUCN Red List. Since 2020 it has been listed as 'Vulnerable' as the population is estimated at less than 800 mature individuals, and although found in many protected areas, the population is still decreasing.