
The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the five extant species in the genus Panthera, a member of the cat family, Felidae.[4] It occurs in a wide range in sub-Saharan Africa, in some parts of Western and Central Asia, Southern Russia, and on the Indian subcontinent to Southeast and East Asia. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because leopard populations are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, and are declining in large parts of the global range. The leopard is considered locally extinct in Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Jordan, Morocco, Togo, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Kuwait, Syria, Libya, Tunisia and most likely in North Korea, Gambia, Laos, Lesotho, Tajikistan, Vietnam and Israel.[3] Contemporary records suggest that the leopard occurs in only 25% of its historical global range.[5][6] Compared to other wild cats, the leopard has relatively short legs and a long body with a large skull. Its fur is marked with rosettes. It is similar in appearance to the jaguar (Panthera onca), but has a smaller, lighter physique, and its rosettes are generally smaller, more densely packed and without central spots. Both leopards and jaguars that are melanistic are known as black panthers. The leopard is distinguished by its well-camouflaged fur, opportunistic hunting behaviour, broad diet, strength, and its ability to adapt to a variety of habitats ranging from rainforest to steppe, including arid and montane areas. It can run at speeds of up to 58 km/h (36 mph).[7] The earliest known leopard fossils excavated in Europe are estimated 600,000 years old, dating to the late Early Pleistocene.[2] Leopard fossils were also found in Japan[8] and Sumatra.[9]

Leopard

Species
for Species in Shere Khan, Lord of the Jungle
Suggested by adrianabengozarlopez

After his pregnant mate Durga is killed by the man-village poacher, Buldeo, Shere-Khan vows to hate all humans. Years later, in the man-village, a couple and their new-born ‘man-cub’ have inherited riches. Buldeo, wanting the inheritance, murders the couple, while their basket, carrying the baby, washes into the jungle. Soon, Shere-Khan and his cave-lodger, Tabaqui the jackal, find the baby. Shere Khan, still hating humans, reluctantly brings the baby to his cave. Over the next few days, with the help of Tabaqui, Bagheera the panther, and Baloo the bear, Shere-Khan grows fond of the baby. Shere-Khan and Bagheera argue about where the baby belongs. Buldeo soon kidnaps the baby, plotting to dispose of him to claim the inheritance. Shere-Khan and Bagheera sneak into the man-village at night, to Buldeo’s fur-hut, and they find that Bhadra, the alpha of a vicious pack of dholes in the jungle, has been captured/caged by Buldeo. After saving the baby, Shere-Khan reluctantly frees Bhadra. Leaving the baby with Bagheera, Shere-Khan confronts Buldeo. After a tense fight, Buldeo is caught in his own tigertrap. Shere-Khan now has the human, who took his mate, at his mercy. However, Shere-Khan lets Buldeo get finished off by Bhadra and his pack, who let Shere-Khan leave for freeing Bhadra. Shere-Khan and Bagheera emotionally have the baby adopted by a wolf-pack, who call the baby ’Mowgli’. Shere-Khan decides to go to the distant parts of the jungle, with Tabaqui accompanying him.





