the Leopard
panthera pardus
Reproduction
Leopards can and will
mate during any time of the year, however, in certain
habitats they tend to favor January and February as a mating
season. Often times many males will compete over a single
female. Copulation is very frequent and usually occurs between
70 and 100 times a day! A typical litter of leopards
consists of two or three cubs. However, the female leopard can
sometimes have a litter of up to six cubs! The mortality
rate of leopard cubs is very high, usually due to predation. The
mother feeds the cubs meat once they reach the age of about 6
weeks. However, she may suckle them for up to three
months.
A leopard's young have a longer and more plush coat than adult
leopards, with spots that are not yet defined. The male
leopard is not usually involved in rearing the young and are
often kept at bay by the females.
The mother will often times leave her cubs, usually while she is
in pursuit of food. This is a dangerous time for the young
leopards because they have no protection and are virtually
helpless. The mother leopard usually relies on camouflage and
tries to hide her young in a den. The mother
can be away from her cubs for long periods of times, sometimes
up to a day and a half!
Leopard cubs are able to walk at 13 days and begin to follow
their mother and venture outside of the den at 3 months.
By the time the leopard cub is a year old it can usually survive
on its own, although they will often stay with their mothers for
longer periods of time (up to two years).
