Leopard and Cheetah Facts
WWW.AFRICAT.ORG
LEOPARD FAST FACTS:
Panthera pardus
- Shoulder height:
- Male 69cm (Okonjima’s largest 78cm)
- Female 60cm (Okonjima’s largest 65cm)
- Length (tip of nose to base of tail):
- Male 134cm (Okonjima’s largest 150cm)
- Female 114cm (Okonjima’s largest 127cm)
- Base of tail to end of tail:
- Male 83cm (Okonjima’s largest 87cm)
- Female 76cm (Okonjima’s largest 78cm)
- Weight:
- Male 53kg (Okonjima’s largest 69kg)
- Female 31,5kg (Okonjima’s largest 36kg)
[The above figures are taken from 59 males and 58 females on OKONJIMA – March 2007]
- Characteristics: Leopards are shy, solitary and very intelligent creatures – cunning and far more silent than any of their cousins. They are found in a wide range of habitats from forests to deserts. Sadly leopards are hunted for their pelts and are most dangerous when wounded, cornered or persistently disturbed.
- Gestation: 90 – 95 days
- Diet: A carnivorous species. Leopards have a diverse diet ranging from insects, domestic stock, medium size antelope, guinea fowl, hares, birds, dogs etc - even decaying flesh and desert melon. Prey is stalked and it is known that leopard sometimes get as close as 4m from their prey and kill by biting through the throat and nape of the neck. Leopards are not dependent on water, but will drink when water is available. Hunting is aided by excellent sight, hearing and smell.
CHEETAH FAST FACTS:
Acinonyx jubatus
- A ‘Rehabilitated Cheetah’ is an orphaned cheetah, that has NOT been hand-raised, but has been in captivity from a cub to adulthood, and is now hunting on its own and been given a second chance to return to the wild.
- It is important to remember that AfriCat’s cheetah rehabilitation programme was initiated to give some of our captive cheetahs an opportunity to return to their natural environment. Although hunting in carnivores is instinctive, many of the cheetahs at AfriCat lack experience due to being orphaned or removed from the wild at an early age
- All the rehabilitated cheetahs are monitored daily by radio-tracking them on foot and guests can participate in the tracking of these rehabilitated cheetahs on our "Cheetah Tracking Trail”
- Besides giving orphaned cheetahs a chance to return to the wild, the success of this project provides other substantial benefits. It gives us the opportunity to assess whether rehabilitation is a successful means of conserving an endangered population and also allows for the number of cheetahs in captivity to be reduced.
- The Cheetah – Acinonyx jubatus
- Shoulder height:
- Male 79,62cm
- Female 77,71cm
- Male 79,62cm
- Length (tip of nose to base of tail):
- Male 132,57cm
- Female 127.48cm
- Male 132,57cm
- Base of tail to end of tail:
- Male 77.35
- Female 73.73
- Male 77.35
- Weight:
- Male 46,25kg
- Female 39,40kg
- Male 46,25kg
- Habitat: Cheetahs are found in a wide range of habitats. It is generally accepted that they are diurnal but have also been observed hunting on nights when there is sufficient moonlight.
- Gestation: 90 – 95 days
- Diet: A carnivorous species. Preys on medium size antelope, guinea fowl, hares etc - even jackal at times. Prey is run down at considerable speed over short distances and bowled over by having the hind legs knocked out from under it. Death is brought about by strangulation. It will not eat carrion or anything that has not been freshly killed. Hunting is aided by excellent sight.