The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the five living “big cats” in the genus Panthera. It is a highly adaptable cat found across much of sub‑Saharan Africa and from the Middle East through South and Southeast Asia to the Russian Far East. Leopards typically hunt by stealth and ambush and have a broad diet, taking prey from small mammals up to medium-sized antelope and deer (diet varies by region and prey availability). They are powerful climbers and often hoist carcasses into trees to reduce losses to scavengers. In short bursts, leopards can run up to about 58 km/h (36 mph). Leopards live in a wide range of habitats, including forests, savannas, grasslands, deserts, and mountainous terrain.
