A REVIEW OF THE ECOLOGY OF THE SOUTHERN KALAHARI LEOPARD

SUMMARY

The leopard occurs widely in the world. Consequently it has great adaptability and a wide range of ecological characteristics. Some of these characteristics are valid throughout its range, but others are specific to a given region. This paper describes the ecology of the leopards of the arid southern Kalahari where extremes in environmental conditions often exist. In marking behaviour and reproduction the general species pattern is followed. However, cub mortality is high. The ranges based by leopards in the southern Kalahari are much larger than elsewhere. They probably reflect the prey-poor nature of the area. Feeding is opportunistic and southern Kalahari leopards are number maximisers when hunting. A flexible prey approach is used when hunting some prey. The leopard is independent of free water. Exploitation competition is probably slight, but these leopards do compete with lions and spotted hyaenas for food.