The Zoo is
CLOSED
for the winter season.
Visit us when we
reopen in April 2010.

Leopard

Scientific Name:	Panthera pardus
Range:	Asia and Africa
Habitat:	Forests in hilly country and savannahs
Natural Diet:	Small mammals
Zoo Diet:	Carnivore diet, bones as a treat, and fasts one day per week
Physical Characteristics:	Leopards weigh up to 200 pounds. They are the most adaptable of all cats. From deserts to tropics, leopards are experts at adapting to almost any environment. Black patterns help leopards hide in their surroundings.
Behavior:	Leopards have exceptional eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell. They run at speeds of up to 37 miles per hour and can leap 10 feet up into a tree. When angry, they growl, spit, and roar. When they are content, they purr. Leopards are good swimmers and climbers. Although leopards are solitary animals, a male’s territory often overlaps with the territory of several females. They hunt at dawn or dusk and ambush their prey by waiting in brush or trees.
Reproduction:	Females give birth to two or three helpless cubs. The mother must move her cubs frequently to avoid predators. Cubs stay with their mother for 18 months to 2 years, learning to hunt at her side.
Notes:	At the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo you can find a leopard in the African Village.