Leopard Facts for Kids

While once found over a wide range of territory, the leopard's range has shrunk quite a bit. Once found throughout Asia, it is now found there only in small, isolated areas, in smaller numbers. However, the leopard's range is larger than any other wild cat, making its survival a little safer than some of the other endangered big cats, especially since it has such a big range in Africa.

These cats are fast runners, able to run up to 36 miles per hour (about 60 km/h).

Being great climbers, a leopard will often drag its meal up a tree, where it doesn't have to worry so much about other predators trying to steal the kill, especially if it's feeding its cubs. They can even drag an animal several times its size all the way up into the trees!

However, leopards are not the strongest animals in Africa, so if a lion or a hyena comes along trying to steal the prey, it's dangerous for a leopard to fight back. Climbing a tree is usually a lot safer...except when a lion comes along who can climb too.

Newborn leopards are blind for about a week and a half, and stay in the den for about three months before they're old enough to go outside and follow their mom along on a hunt. They stay with their mother for about a year or two, when they're old enough to move out on their own and hunt for themselves. After that, they live alone, and can be pretty territorial.

While usually nocturnal, leopards are often active at all times of the day. And unlike some cats, they're pretty good swimmers, as well as excellent climbers, often spending time in the trees.

In captivity, they can live up to 21 years, which is pretty long for a cat.

And although the snow leopard and clouded leopard share the name, they are actually considered a different species, sharing the name because of their similar appearance.

One of the most famous types of leopard is the black panther, with dark fur instead of spots. This is not a separate species, but simply a trait that some big cats have.

They can also mix with other animals, such as lions, tigers, and jaguars, to form hybrid animals that look like a mix between the two!

Poaching is a problem, as hunters kill leopards for their beautiful fur coat, and farmers sometimes consider them a problem if they start hunting farm animals.

Still, most leopards are in better shape than other animals, such as the tiger, but conservation efforts are important, especially for some of the more endangered species. The Amur leopard, which lives in eastern Russia, is in serious need of help.

Organizations like the World Wildlife Fund word to protect many endangered animals, and are always happy for people to help out.

Just like all the other big cats, leopards are found in a wide range of literature, art, myths and legends, and their spots make popular clothing designs or costumes. Pictures of them are used in the coat of arms of some countries, and they are used as a symbol of strength, mystery, and power.

They're now quite popular on a safari, if the visitors are lucky enough to see them, which is good news for conservation efforts, since ecotourism is usually quite helpful for survival. They'll probably be popular forever, just like they've been popular all this time.