Indian Leopard
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[Photo] Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca). Photograph taken by LRBurdak (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:LRBurdak). Copyright (C) Laxman Burdak
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The Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is a subspecies of leopards native to the Indian subcontinent.
Habitat and Range
The Indian leopard is one of the most successful members of Indian big cats. The animal is distributed throughout the subcontinent, including in the border nations of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and southern China. Habitat varies from dry deciduous forests, desert ecosystems, tropical rainforests, northern coniferous forests, to near human habitation.
Threats
Despite being the most widespread cat, the Indian leopard has faced several types of threats. The animal shares its habitat with other predators, which include Asiatic lions, tigers, bears, wolves, hyenas, and wild dogs. These animals would kill the cubs when given a chance. But in case of lions and tigers, it often results to a full-grown leopard falling prey. Apart from its natural enemies, the leopard's main threat are people. For years, it has been threatened, due to loss of habitat and poaching. In some parts of India, the animal thrives alongside people. There, it would go about searching for an easy meal of domestic livestock. Thus, resulting to a man-leopard conflict. This problem, however, is due to leopards' population growth during recent years. In order to prevent such havocs, the Forest Department sets up traps in the conflict area, or a town. After capturing the animal, they release it in an appropriate habitat faraway from humanity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Leopard
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