Similar to the jaguar, leopards have spots, and the nearly all-black leopards are generally found in the thick rain forest of Southeast Asia. Talented athletes, they can run at top speed for up to 30 miles, carry animals heavier than themselves and are strong swimmers. Leopards hunt at night and use their keen vision and hearing to stalk their prey.

Leopards are carnivorous and will eat any meat they find, including monkeys, rodents, reptiles and large prey such as antelope. They are so skilled at stalking and pouncing that they often do not need to chase their prey and, when they do chase prey, often outrun and out-power them.

They can live for up to 12 to 15 years in the wild and about double that in captivity. They have a gestation period of three to 3.5 months, and females will usually birth litters of about two to three cubs at 1 pound each. At three years old, they reach the age of maturity.

Humans, lions and hyenas are the main threats to the leopard population.

Various species of leopards are found all over Africa and Asia.