Leopard

Did you know?
that the fur trade was a major threat to the leopard in some areas during the 1960s and 1970s, before the market collapsed due to changing public opinion and the imposition of international trade controls under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). About 40 years ago several world-famous movie stars were wearing leopard coats, acting thereby as fashion leaders, which increased the hunting pressure on leopards dramatically.

Photo Copyright by
Kathrin Marthaler, Switzerland

Why do zoos keep this animal

While the species as such is still of "least concern", several subspecies are very endangered. With a view of building up viable reserve populations, an International "Rare Leopards" Studbook was set up in 1971 under the umbrella of WAZA. This studbook forms the basis for conservation breeding programmes operated at the regional level by several zoo associations for the Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis), the North-Chinese leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis), the Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotyia), the Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor) and the South Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr).

In the 1960 and 70s, the leopard had been unsustainably hunted for its fur. For this reason and also to illustrate and mitigate the large carnivore:livestock problematic, it is a good subject for environmental education.

How this animal should be kept

Legal requirements for the keeping of large cats vary greatly from country to country. Even if lower national standards apply, it is recommended that an outdoor enclosure of 500 m² per pair, or a female with offspring if kept separate, should be provided. The enclosure should be enlarged by 50 m² for each additional adult. In cold and temperate climatic zones, an indoor enclosure of at least 15 m² per adult animal is necessary for leopard subspecies from tropical or subtropical areas, where a minimum temperature of 15°C should be maintained. Enclosures should be at least 3.5 m high.

Dens should contain at least an elevated resting place and, for providing drinking water, a good solid metal dish that is cleaned every day and heavy enough not to be knocked over easily, or a licksit, or an automatically filled bowl that can be easily disassembled for cleaning. There should be at least one den more than there are animals. The dens should be interconnected and connected to the outdoor enclosure by slide doors. Slides are better horizontal than vertical, and should be positioned so the keeper can see the area around the slide clearly while operating it. Hydraulics are unnecessary for leopards. The animals should have access to the outdoor enclosure all year round

Outdoor enclosures should be well drained. They should have natural soil with a grass cover or a layer of sand, marly limestone or bark chippings. Bark chippings in sunlight get acidic and discourage parasite load. Enclosures must not be empty but suitably furnished to meet the leopard's needs such as the following: Visual barriers to enable the leopards to hide from one another, e.g. rises/dips in the ground, logs, rocks, plantings, but these should not allow one cat to corner another, there should always be an escape route. Trees for scratching and shade, but not too near the fence unless the top of the enclosure is secured by a steel net. Platforms for sitting on and overlooking a view - if possible, one in the shade and one in the sun. Plants that smell strong and/or attract insects add interest. There must be several resting places providing some protection from inclement .

Leopards are solitary animals and should be kept alone, in pairs or small groups of compatible animals. Females giving birth and rearing cubs should be separated. There should be a cubbing den; dry, dark, quiet, warm, draught-free, positioned in the least disturbed part of the facility. A wooden den in this for giving birth is an option but not essential if the den is well designed. A low-light video camera in this is good if there is the money for it. A keeper spyhole is an option instead but take care that using it does not disturb the mother.

Access to outside enclosure for regular cleaning should be through either the indoor facility or a lock chamber so that there is more security. There should be at least two lockable doors between a cat and the outside world at any time. Doors should open inward; that way if a door is not locked and a cat pushes on it, it stays closed. There can also be a large gate directly from the outside enclosure to the outside world for occasional use when wanting to bring in a new tree or large log or other cage furniture.

The diet should consist of entire carcases, meat on the bone, eventually with skin, supplemented with mineral salts and vitamins, and occasionally by-products. In North America commercial diets consisting of minced meat with mineral and vitamin supplements are available. Such feed is, however, not deemed to be in compliance with animal welfare regulations of many countries in Europe and possibly elsewhere. When feeding poultry, it should be considered that all large cats are susceptible to virulent strains of avian influenza.