Leopard Cats
The leopard cat is among the five extinct species in the genus Panthera, also part of the Felidae, a family of cats which includes tigers and leopards. It occurs in an extremely wide geographical region in sub-Sahara Africa, in tiny parts of Western and Central Asia, some parts of the Russian Empire, and even on the Indian subcontinent. Though the Leopard Cat is listed with twelve distinct species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is thought that there may be as few as two or three left, and that the remaining population is vulnerable to poaching and increasing population pressure.
A sleek-bodied predator with a large body size and a stocky build, the leopard has an intimidating presence that has earned it the nickname’Leopard Cat’. Its sturdy body and heavy paws have made it excellent hunters; reports say that it often catches and kills larger game than any other cat in its range. In fact, even big game such as lions, hyenas and jaguars are not safe from the claws and bite of these cats. Despite its intimidating appearance, Leopard Cats is delicate by nature and is easily scared away from threats, sometimes even friendly animals such as people. Its low activity level and aloof temperament make it a solitary hunter.
The leopard cat generally eats a mix of meat and vegetation; though smaller prey animals such as hares and rodents are also taken, as they are also favored prey by Leopard Cats. Preferring grassy areas for hunting, Leopard Cats lives in large bachelor groups, with male cats leading the pack. When prey is sighted, they all head in the same direction to avoid being seen by competitors. After a short distance the Alpha male will pounce, surprising and stunning the prey with his powerful bite. Then all the group members gather around and enjoy the kill.