This story illustrates the fact that the seemingly rare leopard can not only survive in the wilderness, but is, on the contrary, a highly adaptable animal, found in stable populations in a variety of biotopes, ranging from savannas and forests to mountains and, obviously, cities. It is not really rare, rather not seen as often as the other big cats, as its habits are secretive.

Leopards mainly move about at night, and spend days resting in shrubs, in trees or on elevated rocks. It leads a solitary life, and is mainly seen in singles. (If more than one single is seen in the same spot, it's either a mother with cubs, or a male and a female meeting temporarily to mate.) It is also well camouflaged and moves stealthily, and may live close to human populations without being noticed.

Hunting
Leopards hunt at night. (Should good opportunities to hunt arise during daytime, they may do so, but it is quite rare.) Their large paws make them good stalkers, and they hunt by slowly and quietly sneaking very close to their prey, and then leaping upon it.

The leopard is the second largest cat in Africa (the lion is much bigger), and is sturdy and strong. It often carries its kill into a tree, where it can eat without being disturbed by lions or hyaenas, and where it can leave the leftovers until later, out of reach to others.

After eating, it often climbs down the tree to go drinking. Therefore, it may be worthwhile waiting if you spot an eating leopard; it may soon be on the move. The leopard may climb down a vertical tree trunk head first. It is also a good swimmer, but prefers not to enter the water if possible.

Food for leopards
Like all cats, leopards are carnivores. Thomson's gazelles and reedbucks are common prey, but also impalas and other antelopes up to the size of wildebeest are killed. The leopard is adaptable not only to biotopes, but also to the food available in these, and may eat fish, rodents, monkeys, snakes and big birds. It has been observed killing jackals, domestic dogs and goats, and may also eat carrion.

It is not common for leopards to kill humans, but it does happen, usually when an old or injured leopard is bereft of its normal hunting capacity and has to try something new. Man-eating on man-killing leopards don't usually live long, as they are considered too dangerous to be left alive; hunters and rangers soon hunt it down.

Colour and markings
Due to its camouflage markings, a leopard is hard to spot when resting or hiding in foliage. It's pale to yellowish-brown (white below), with black spots on legs and head, and rosettes of black spots on its back and flanks. The tail is spotted, too, but prominently white on the underside of the tip. The backs of its ears are black with a pale spot.

Colouring and markings may vary locally, and subspecies with unique markings are known, for example the small-spotted Zanzibar leopard (which may now be extinct). Melanism, which means darkening or blackening of the normal fur colour, is sometimes seen in leopards, mainly in forest. Such a black leopard (or jaguar, a big cat found in South America) is sometimes referred to as a black panther.

Leopard enemies
Leopards are known to have been killed by lions, crocodiles and packs of African wild dogs, and may be troubled by other carnivores, such as hyaenas, after making a kill. Both lions and hyaenas are bigger, and the leopard usually surrenders its prey rather than fighting for it. Troops of baboons have been seen chasing leopards away.

Humans kill leopards because of the beautiful fur, or to protect livestock or themselves. Leopards are fairly easy to hunt using dogs, as leopards often escape the dogs into a tree, where they can easily be shot. When on the ground, leopards prefer using their habitual routes, and are easy both to track and to trap.

The leopard population had decreased or vanished completely in many areas, due to excessive hunting and to habitat loss following for example deforestation. The species is not endangered, though, thanks to the leopard's ability to adapt to different biotopes.

Apart from in Africa, leopards are found in many parts of southern Asia.

Leopards on safaris
Leopards live in most parks, but are hard to see. In Kenya, Lake Nakuru is known for frequent leopard observations, and Masai Mara is quite a good park, too. In Tanzania, leopards are regularly seen in Serengeti, especially along the rivers and in kopjes, which are found throughout the park. Tarangire is also quite good for seeing leopards.

A typical place where to look for leopards is on horizontal branches in flat-top acacias, sausage trees or other big trees, or on top of rocks.

The leopard is one of the five mammal species included in the Big Five, and is an animal most safari-goers want to see.