Sri-Lankan Leopard
They are the most secretive and elusive of the large carnivores. Pound for pound, it is the strongest climber of the larger cats and is capable of killing prey far larger than itself. However, the leopard is the smallest member of the genus Panthera, which includes the Lion, Tiger and Jaguar. The muscles attached to the scapula are exceptionally strong, which enhance their ability to climb trees. They are sexually dimorphic, the males being at least 30% larger than females and mature males having large and broad heads.
Habitat
They have an islandwide distribution occurring in protected areas, such as national parks, and isolated forest patches in the hill country and areas with suitable habitat. Leopards can be found in the continents and Africa and Asia, where they are widely distributed but declining throughout most of their range. The sub-species Panthera pardus kotiya is only found in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka's central hills, leopards have been recorded in forest patches, tea estates, grasslands, home gardens, pine and eucalyptus plantations.
Diet
They are a carnivorous animal while they feed on a variety of species from hare, Sambar deer, langurs and even rats. Eating patterns may also include frogs, birds, reptiles, other types of rodents and even insects.
Breeding
Leopards are solitary except for the breeding season. After a pregnancy of around 3 ½ months a litter of 2 to 6 cubs are born. They can live for up to 20 years. Both sexes inhabit in overlapping territories, females occupying small territories within the wider territory of males. Reproduction can take place any season of the year. Two cubs are usually born each time.
Population
Since 2008, the Sri Lankan leopard has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. In the wild the population is roughly estimated at 700–950 individuals as of 2015. There are breeding programs set up in zoos for this species around the world. As of December 2011, there are 75 captive Sri Lankan leopards in zoos worldwide. Within the European Endangered Species Programme 27 male, 29 female and 8 unsexed individuals are kept. The EEP breeding program is managed by Zoo Cerza, France.
Threats
The survival of the Sri Lankan leopard is threatened due to habitat loss and fragmentation primarily with some levels of direct poaching and direct and indirect human-leopard related leopard deaths.
Conservation
Further research into the Sri Lankan leopard is needed for any conservation measure to be effective. The Leopard Project under the Wilderness and Wildlife Conservation Trust (WWCT) is working closely with the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure this occurs. The Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society will also undertake some studies. The WWCT is engaged throughout the island with targeted work ongoing in the central hills region where fragmentation of the leopard's habitat is rapidly occurring.