Leopards in Uganda are most commonly found in several national parks, including Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valley, and Lake Mburo National Parks. While they are elusive and nocturnal, making sightings less predictable, these parks offer the best chances of spotting them during game drives, especially at dawn, dusk, or during night safaris.
Leopards are big cats who live in Central Asia, China, and India, and across sub-Saharan and northeast Africa. The African leopard (Panthera pardus) is found in five of Uganda’s National Parks: Kidepo Valley, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo, and Semiliki National Park. Despite the wide range across Uganda, the African leopard is on the brink of extinction.
Because leopards are such secretive animals, there is no way to know exactly how many exist in the wild but, in 1987, it was estimated that there were just over 4,000 leopards in Uganda. However, more recent evidence suggests that this is a gross overestimate, and some sources say there are less than 3,000 leopards left today. The healthiest population of leopards in Uganda inhabits Queen Elizabeth National Park, described as “one of the country’s last strongholds for this species. Leopards live up to 12 years in the wild.
Unlike lions, male leopards spend most of their time alone and females only with their cubs. The only time adult leopards come together is to mate. But because they live alone, they don’t reproduce as much, or as successfully, as animals that live in groups.
Leopards weigh about the same as a human
Male leopards weigh between nine and 14 stone (60 and 90 kg), and females are a lot smaller at between five and eight stone (34 and 50 kg). But although they’re the same weight as humans, they’re much stronger. A leopard is about seven times stronger than a human and can drag a carcass three times their weight up into a tree so it doesn’t get stolen by other predators.
Not all cats are scared of water
Leopards are excellent swimmers and can even hunt fish. Leopards are ambush hunters so they’ll stay close to the ground and sneak up on giant catfish in shallow pools and streams, before pouncing and using their mouth and claws to grab the unlucky fish.
Leopards like the high life
Leopards spend a lot of time climbing trees and hiding in the branches. When an unsuspecting victim, such as a hare, antelope or lizard, walks beneath, the leopard will speedily pounce from above to catch his or her prey.
Leopards are highly adaptable
Despite the saying “a leopard can’t change its spots”, they are actually very adaptable animals and can survive in many different environments and climates. They are found in both hot and cold environments, in tropical jungles, grasslands and deserts.
A leopard’s spots are both inherited and unique
he spots and rosettes around a leopard’s whiskers are as individual as a human fingerprint. But although no two leopards share exactly the same pattern, there are similarities between a mother’s markings and her cubs.
It’s not easy being a single mum
The mother leopard is pregnant for three months and after giving birth to between two and four cubs, they stay together for up to two years. During this time, the cubs play and learn to hunt together. Leopard mothers give birth every 15 to 24 months so spend most their life with their cubs. They have a much harder time than lions, as they have to raise and protect their cubs on their own, without the help of a pride.
