This is a story about two leopard cubs and their mother. Although the story is fictional, it contains many true facts about leopards. See if you can “spot” the facts.  (This story is copyrighted by Dawn Ross, 2008.)

Jori waits patiently in the tall brown grass as his unsuspecting sister swats at a dried tuft of brush with her big kitten paws. As Mara pounces on her imaginary prey, Jori twitches with excitement, flicking his tail ever so slightly. Mara has no idea he is there waiting for her to get close to him.

Jori’s coat, spotted in rosette patterns, hides him well as he crouches low to the ground behind the tall blades of grass. Jori’s mother rests quietly nearby, seemingly ignoring her cubs while she watches and listens intently to her surroundings for danger. Jori and Mara are the only two cubs left out of her litter of four. The dangers of the African plains are very real - especially to two young leopards who have not yet learned to hunt or fight on their own.

The cubs wouldn’t be ready to leave their mother for another year, but already they are learning the tactics necessary for survival. Mara performs the pouncing that will one day help her leap on her unsuspecting quarry while Jori practices the stealth that will someday help him to sneak up on his prey.

Suddenly, Jori jumps from his hiding place to spring upon his sister. Mara sees him in time to turn and run, but not soon enough to escape her brother’s momentum. Jori chases her a short distance before he leaps upon her back. Mara stumbles to the ground and rolls in the dirt, taking her brother with her. As soon as the two siblings regain their footing, a mock fight ensues. The fighting is rough but both are still having a ton of fun as their mother watches indulgently nearby.

The sun begins to set long before their energy is spent. The two cubs are ready to hunt as soon as the sun falls below the horizon. They follow their mom into the tall grass and keep an eye on her white under-tail which is easy to see under the still darkening sky. Their walking is silent as they pause every now and then to listen for prey.

Something small stirs in the underbrush nearby. Had the leopards been human, they would not have heard it at all. But even though the hunting leopards hear the noise, they ignore it. By the sound, the animal is much too small to be worth while for three hungry predators. When they had hunted the previous night, their mom made three attempts to capture a meal with no success so they were very hungry.

Mom continues to lead the way into the wind so their prey will not be able to smell them coming. It isn’t long before they reach a rise and spot several gazelle on the plains below. Although it is dark, the gazelle are easy to see. Leopards can see six times better than humans, after all. And while from dusk to dawn is one of the most difficult times for almost any creature to see, the leopards are in their element.

Mom stalks silently through the brush. Jori and Mara follow just as silently. Though they are still young, they have learned this task well. It is the kill that they still haven’t mastered. As they slowly come upon a young gazelle at the edge of the herd, Jori and Mara stay hidden to watch their mother sneak closer.

Then as suddenly as Jori had sprung upon his sister, their mother bounds from her hiding place to attack the gazelle. Mom chases her prey with agility and a speed of almost 40 miles per hour before the race is quickly ended.

The leopards meet with success this night. As they eat their fill, the herd of gazelle scatter into the night. At first, only the sound of feeding leopards could be heard. Then a suspicious bark is heard. Since there are likely other predators nearby, the leopards have to leave. Mom may not be in much danger, but her cubs are. And their freshly caught meal is at risk of being stolen. Adult leopards are strong, but they are no match against a pride of lions or a pack of jackals.

The three leopards drag the remains of their meal across the ground and to a tall tree. And even though the carcass weighs more than their mom, she manages to get a good grip on it and hauls it up to one of the highest limbs. Jori and Mara follow her up and spend the remainder of the night safe and with their tummies full.

Although the lives of leopards are full of hardships and danger, they are the most widespread members of the big cat family. Jori and Mara have leopard cousins living in areas from Africa to China, from lowlands up to the tree lines of mountains, and from dry desert frontiers to wet rain forests. It makes Jori and Mara proud to be leopards.

Summary of Leopard Facts:

• The Genus and species of leopards is Panthera pardus.
• The spotted coat of leopards, also called rosette, helps to camouflage the leopards in grass and brush while they hunt.
• Generally, a mother leopard has up to 6 cubs in a litter but only 2-3 tend to survive.
• Leopard cubs are completely helpless during the first few months of life and stay with mom for about two years.
• When leopard cubs play, they are also learning the skills they will need to survive.
• From dusk to dawn are when leopards normally hunt.
• The white underside of the leopard’s tail is thought to be for young cubs to easily see and follow.
• Leopards can hear two times better than people.
• Leopards have been known to roam their territory 15 miles in one night in search of prey.
• Only an average of 1 in 3 attempts to capture prey are successful.
• Leopards are one of the few big cats to learn that hunting into the wind helps them have success at hunting because their prey won’t be able to smell them coming.
• Leopards can see six times better than people.
• Leopards are capable of short bursts of speed close to 40 miles per hour.
• Leopards haul their prey into trees to keep other predators from stealing it.
• A leopard can haul much more than its own weight into a tree.
• Leopards are so well adapted that they live all over the African continent. They also live in the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, China, and even in the eastern part of the Soviet Union.
• Leopards are truly one of the most widespread of big cats.

There are many other interesting facts about leopards. I have books available for sale below where you can get more information. And if you really love leopards, there are also some great leopard and panther figurines for sale at the Animal Figurine Store (panthers are actually black leopards).