DIET AND PREY PROFILES OF LEOPARD (PANTHERA PARDUS) IN CORBETT TIGER RESERVE, RAMNAGAR, UTTRAKHAND, INDIA
Sanjeev Kumar
Abstract
Leopard (Panthera pardus) is the sympatric species of tiger (Panthera tigris). These felids are very smart and against to each other for ecological cum vital needs. Leopards are quite smaller (39-68 kg) while Tiger (135-230 kg). In wild it is not very common to see the leopard. These felids are very furious, hunting on smaller prey and hauling the carcasses up tree. Leopard have habit to catch small prey like goat, Langoor, dog, and other easy small domestic prey i.e. habituated to live near village or in human dominated landscapes. Leopard is very shy and very very able to hide anywhere in surroundings. Most of cases of man-eating or conflict belongs to Panthera pardus in rest of Panthera tigris. Total 210 no. of scats were analyzed for diet & prey profile of Panthera pardus. Scat analysis reconstructed the diet and depicts the food and feeding behaviour of leopards.