Leopard
The leopard's versatility means that it has managed to survive persecution and the disappearance of large areas of its habitat. They are hunted in parts of their range for their valuable pelts, and are sometimes poisoned or shot in areas where they are considered a threat to livestock. However, the leopard's adaptability and extensive distribution means that it is unlikely to become extinct in the near future, and so it is classified as 'Lower Risk' by IUCN. It is Integrally Protected in Congo.
Leopards are extremely flexible in their diet and can eat a range of different foods, from beetles to large antelopes. They tend to prefer medium-sized and small mammals, such as duikers, rodents, reptiles and birds. Leopards rely on thick vegetation to ambush their prey, and in practice their diet often depends on whatever they can catch without moving too far from this cover. In urban areas they have been known to prey on domestic pets, boldly approaching houses and gardens to carry off the animals.
Leopards are solitary and territorial animals. They mark their territory by leaving dung, spraying urine and scratching trees at key points in their range, and patrol the area regularly. They are mainly nocturnal, and can cover an area of at least 25 square kilometres in a night. During the day they hide in thick vegetation. Mothers form strong bonds with their offspring, and sometimes remain close to one another even after the youngsters have become fully independent. They are several cases documented where a mother and her independent offspring have apparently cooperated to catch prey, or shared a kill that one has caught independently.