All information about the leopard

Differences between leopard, panther, cheetah and jaguar

The difference between a leopard and a panter is not always obvious. A leopard is the same as a panther, only the name is different.

A cheetah is a different species from the panther. A cheetah is also called a cheetah. The cheetah is slimmer built and a lot faster than the panther. The coat of a cheetah consists of dots, while the coat of a panther consists of black circles with a brown dot in the middle.

The jaguar is very similar to a panther. However, the jaguar is even more solidly built and has a large, broad head. In addition, the jaguar is a lot bigger than the panther and each lives in a different habitat.

Rangers at the Safari Park often get asked this question. That's why Ranger Jannah explains it to you in detail in this video.

You can find the Persian panther here

What does a panther eat?

A panther is a true carnivore. They hunt smaller animals and medium-sized mammals, such as:

• deer

• antelope

• pigs

• baboons

• snakes

• jackals

• monkeys

How do panthers hunt?

Panthers live alone and each panther has its own territory. They are mostly active at dusk and at night. Once the panther has found prey, it quietly stalks it to about three to 10 meters away. Then he jumps on top of it and breaks the prey's neck. Then they take their prey into a tree and eat it. The prey may even weigh more than the panther itself! If they do not eat the prey completely, they hide the rest in the leaves and ground or leave it hanging in the tree. A panther can climb very well and can reach speeds of up to sixty kilometers per hour!

Are leopards really as lazy as their name would suggest? Find out in the Ranger Request below where ranger Brent explains more about this.

Where do panthers live?

Panthers are the most widespread felines around the world. Panthers live in Africa and Asia. Their habitat can vary greatly. For example, they live in dense rain forests, coniferous forests and savannas. The most important thing for the panther is a good hiding place and plenty of food. The Persian panther lives in southwest Asia. They live there on mountainous steppes and in coniferous forests at altitudes between 1,500 and 4,000 meters!

Is the panther an endangered species?

The panther is a vulnerable species. It is threatened by hunting and the disappearance of its habitat. They are hunted for their fur. Farmers also kill the animals because they eat their livestock.

The role of zoos is to preserve and protect of endangered species. European parks work closely together to achieve this goal and do so with an management program (EEP). The panther is also part of this. In this way, a healthy reserve population is maintained. Find out more about species conservation and our role here here.

Conservation

Not only panthers, but many of the animal species you see in our park are endangered and struggling in their original habitats. Did you know that worldwide more than 4,000 animal species threatened with extinction are endangered? Together we can help them, with big, or small steps. Want to know how? Then click here.

Wildlife Foundation

The Wildlife Foundation supports SPOTS Foundation, helping to protect panthers in the wild. Want to learn more about the Wildlife Foundation and the projects they support? Then click here.

Reproduction of the panther and their cubs

Panthers can have cubs throughout the year, but a peak is seen during the rainy season. After a three-month gestation period, an average of two to three cubs are born. The cubs weigh less than one kilogram at birth and still have their eyes closed. The mother hides the cubs when she goes hunting. She also constantly moves the cubs to a different hiding place. This way she prevents the cubs from being found by other predators. After two weeks the cubs begin to walk and after about six weeks they leave the hiding place. They then begin eating solid food. The cubs continue to drink with their mother until they are about three months old, and after twenty months they are independent.

Types of panthers

Within the species of panther (Panthera pardus) there are minor differences to be discovered. Nine subspecies are currently recognized:

• African panther (Panthera pardus pardus)

• Arabian panther (Panthera pardus nimr)

• Hind Indian panther (Panthera pardus delacouri)

• Indian panther (Panthera pardus fusca)

• Sri Lankan panther (Panthera pardus kotiya)

• Javanese panther (Panthera pardus melas)

• North-Chinese panther (Panthera pardus japonensis)

• Amur panther (Panthera pardus orientalis)

• Persian panther (Panthera pardus saxicolor)

Many people think that the black panther is also a subspecies of the panther. However, this is not so. The black panther is a melanistic color variety. This means that the skin produces too much pigment. This is the opposite of albinism, where too little pigment is produced. As a result, the pattern is not shown and the coat appears brownish-black in color. However, it is not black. When the black panther stands in sunlight, a faint spotting pattern can still be seen.

In Safaripark Beekse Bergen you can find Persian leopards.