The Leopard is one of the smaller of the big cats similar to the jaguar with which it appears to have had a common ancestor in the recent past. Leopards are one of the most widespread of all big cats, living in Africa as far north as the Sahara, and in Asia from Turkey to Korea and Java. Leopards are secretive, graceful, agile, alert, and cunning. The coat of most Leopards is light tan with many dense black spots. The tail has dark rings around it. All Leopards are much alike, but those that live in forests are darker than those that live in the open plains and desert scrub. The Black Leopard, called a panther is so dark that the spots are hard to see and the eyes can be blue. Albinos are much rarer, which is found in Malaysia, Java, and India.

They average 71 centimetres high at the shoulder and 2.3 metres long. A big male may measure up to 2.7 metres from nose to tail and weigh over 75 kilograms. Leopards are loners, coming together only when a female signals to a male that she is ready to mate. She bears two, three, or four young in a litter. Leopards are good climbers and like to live in areas of grassland where there are trees. Here they can sleep hidden during the heat of the day, as their spotted coat is excellent camouflage in the patchwork of light and shade in the forest. They can also enjoy the afternoon breeze and avoid insect pests that live in the grass below. Leopards prefer to eat up in a tree, out of reach of scavengers. They are unbelievably strong. Carcasses of prey weighing up to 68 kilograms have been found in trees 6 metres above the ground where a Leopard had carried them.

An animal that relies on its power to spring quickly, while the structure of the bones allows it to drop from a high branch and absorb the considerable shock of landing. These fierce animals eat meat and hunt prey. They feed on such animals as pigs, monkeys, antelope, dogs and many other animals. In Africa, they even kill the big porcupines that have quills 30 centimetres in length. Leopards help to control some species that do great damage to crops. Leopards seldom attack human beings. However, once they discover that people are easy victims, Leopards may become more dangerous than tigers or lions. The handsome markings of the Leopard make its fur valuable for coats. So many Leopards have been over hunted for their fur, that the animals have become rare in many places, and several subspecies face possible extinction due to killing and the destruction of their habitat. Many countries have signed treaties forbidding the buying or selling of Leopard skins.

The 'Exotica Collection' wildlife design painted by Jean Sindelar portrays the beautiful, shy and solitary Leopard amidst leopard orchids and some tucker by Ro London. t

Exotica Collection