© Copyright 2009, all rights reserved. Leopard
Leopard Cubs
After mating, the female leopard soon begins to prepare a den for her upcoming cubs. The den can be in a cave, thicket, rock pile, or hollow tree, which should not be easy for other predators to find. The gestation period of leopards is about 90 to 105 days. Then the mother leopard gives birth to a litter. Typically, a leopard litter consists of two to three cubs but, sometimes, up to six.
Newborn leopards are small. They are covered with dull gray fur that shows just vague spots. With their eyes tightly closed, they are completely helpless. The mother leopard has to stay at the den all the time during the first few days after the birth to nurse and care for the newborn cubs.
Baby leopards open their eyes and can walk within two weeks. During the first eight weeks, while the mother leopard has to leave the den from time to time to hunt for food, the baby leopards remain hiding in a den. Only when the mother leopard is at home, the baby leopards can walk out of the den and play outside with each other.
Juvenile leopards begin to accompany their mother on hunting trips at just about two to three months old. They start to learn hunting skills through playing pouncing, hiding, stalking, and sneaking up on each other. They practice catching and killing small live animals brought back by their mother before they hunt on their own.
Fewer than 50 per cent of leopard cubs ever survive beyond their first anniversary. Those who do survive that long are allowed to hunt on their own. Starting from 18 months old, young leopards leave their mothers to find and settle in their own territories or home ranges.
Newborn leopards are small. They are covered with dull gray fur that shows just vague spots. With their eyes tightly closed, they are completely helpless. The mother leopard has to stay at the den all the time during the first few days after the birth to nurse and care for the newborn cubs.
Baby leopards open their eyes and can walk within two weeks. During the first eight weeks, while the mother leopard has to leave the den from time to time to hunt for food, the baby leopards remain hiding in a den. Only when the mother leopard is at home, the baby leopards can walk out of the den and play outside with each other.
Juvenile leopards begin to accompany their mother on hunting trips at just about two to three months old. They start to learn hunting skills through playing pouncing, hiding, stalking, and sneaking up on each other. They practice catching and killing small live animals brought back by their mother before they hunt on their own.
Fewer than 50 per cent of leopard cubs ever survive beyond their first anniversary. Those who do survive that long are allowed to hunt on their own. Starting from 18 months old, young leopards leave their mothers to find and settle in their own territories or home ranges.
