Win the Cat and Mouse Game With Leopards in KenyaPosted by Caspersen Bowles on May 24th, 2021 Win the Cat and Mouse Game With Leopards in Kenya Catching glimpses of leopards, part of the 'Big Cats' and 'Big Five' families are definitely some of the highlights of a Kenya safari. They are well camouflaged and elusive, spending much of their time high up on tree branches, so do your best to peer through the dense leaves for these fascinating Kenya animals. Kenya is lucky to be home to 3 big cats which, besides the leopard, include the African lion and cheetah. So, spot a couple of lions and cheetahs - as you certainly will - and you are more than halfway there. There are 2 different types of Leopard in Kenya, the spotted and the black, also referred to as the 'black panther'. The spotted species has a fawn coat marked with black rose petal-like markings called 'rosettes', a large head, big jaws and short legs. The black panther is jet-black. Spot the Difference Between Leopards and Cheetahs Due to their markings, leopards are sometimes confused with cheetahs. However, there are 3 surefire ways to "spot the difference" between these 2 "Big Cats." The leopard's markings are larger, irregularly shaped and less evenly spread. In addition, this animal has a much larger head and is more muscular that the cheetah. Behavior The males and females have a few things in common. They are both solitary territorial animals although the male has a much larger territory which overlaps with that of several females. These cats mark their territory with their claws and urine. They move about their turf regularly, spending no more than 3 days in a given portion. The female temporarily resists the urge to wander when she gives birth as she is solely responsible for her 2-3 cub litter. She hides her cubs for around 8 weeks and only starts to roam again when the cubs are strong enough to tug along. Interestingly, the newborns don't display their distinctive marks and are gray in color. So What Do Leopards Eat? Cubs have their first meat at 6 weeks but still feed on milk for another 3 months. When the cubs are fully weaned, they feed on the same things as adults; fish, reptiles, monkeys, baboons, warthogs, birds, antelopes, hyrax, rodents, hares and carrion. There is a lot of competition for food and because they are great climbers, they carry their kill high into the trees to eat in safety or store for later. Leopard Habitats in Kenya These cats occur in many of the Kenya national parks where there is sufficient tree cover. However, the best places to sight the spotted species in their natural habitat are Samburu and Masai Mara National Reserves. The Masai Mara is a vast wilderness crammed with all the sought-after Kenya animals. The park reaches right to the border with Tanzania with the Serengeti being its natural southern extension. And, as the animals don't need a passport to move across the border, they cross into and out of the Mara at will. Samburu National Reserve's lifeblood, the Ewaso Nyiro River attracts plenty of Kenya animals because it is a literal oasis in the arid northern Kenya. Samburu is particularly a big hit with "Big Cat" lovers as it is a great place to spot the African lion, cheetahs as well as leopards. If you don't have much time to go on a Kenya safari in the above Kenya national parks which are all located upcountry, all is not lost. You are virtually guaranteed to see these animals in quasi-wild and captured settings in the Nairobi Safari Walk and Nairobi Animal Orphanage... Both facilities are right next door to the Nairobi National Park, but remember to carry binoculars to the safari walk and to scan the dense trees in the correct enclosure. The black panther is rarer than the already elusive spotted species. It is more often found in mountains and forests where its color acts as a perfect camouflage amongst the lush vegetation. In Kenya, black panthers are the preserve of Mount Kenya and Aberdare National Parks and this is where to head if you must see them. Careers KenyaLike it? Share it! |