The Reproductive Behavior of Indian Leopards (Panthera pardus fusca)

Abstract

Leopards are very elusive and elegant cats and their reproductive behavior has been a challenging one to document. All behavioral observations were carried out after the daily cleaning activities of the zoo keepers, from a vantage point undisturbed and unhindered. The animals were observed for 2 hours at a frequency of 4 times a day. A total of 38 leopards were included in the study comprising of 33 animals (17 males and 16 females) from Bannerghatta National Park and 5 animals (3 males and 2 females) from Aringar Anna Zoological Park. The study focused on the mating behavior of leopards which was divided into pre-copulatory period, copulatory period and post-copulatory period, invariable of the number of animals, the total number of matings were regarded prime in this study. The behavioral oestrus periods were calculated as the difference from the day of the first observed behavioral signs shown by the animal to the last observed day of the oestrus signs. The inter-oestrus interval was calculated from the last day of the previous observed behavioral oestrus to the first day of the next observed behavioral oestrus. The behavioral indicators are documented and the findings are discussed.