Amazing Nature #180 - Java Leopard
Java Leopard
Today I close the cycle of almost a month of publications dedicated to the great diversity of felines on the planet. We have seen the incredible power of adaptation from the largest to the smallest felines. Today will be the turn of the Java leopard, one of the feline species in extreme danger of extinction. Join me to learn more about this incredible species.
Due to its location it is one of those species of which there are few scientific studies due to its difficult sighting, however it is very similar in characteristics compared to other leopard species. Among its main characteristics is its beautiful yellow coat with dark spots, usually confused with the cheetah but there are many differences between the two species although their coat is similar.
The Java leopard is found in only one place, the island of Java located in Indonesia, are endemic, its current population is very small limited to only 1000 specimens living in a space of 3500 square kilometers a small space if we compare the size of the island which is about 132,000 square kilometers.
The island of Java is characterized by having wide galleries of tropical forests where the Java leopard can find its food to survive, its behavior is nocturnal and during the day sleep in leafy bushes to escape the heat, sometimes occupy caves of other animals that have left, can also sleep on a branch of a leafy tree, when they are in the trees have more opportunities to hunt mammals, birds and repitiles that cross their path.
In general it is a very solitary and fossil species in comparison with other feline species, it only gathers when they are reproductive season, the gestation stage lasts at least 3 months giving birth to 6 puppies surviving only 4 specimens.
As for its diet, the Java leopard in danger because the inhabitants hunt mammals and birds for consumption, decreasing the chances of being able to eat naturally, consume a variety of rodents, wild pigs, birds and reptiles, due to their extreme survival is sometimes forced to consume carrion of decomposing animals.
Another factor that puts their lives at risk is the gradual reduction of the jungles where they live due to deforestation to consume wood or to have land for the construction of houses or use for agriculture.
Fortunately in Indonesia there are organizations that safeguard the integrity of the Java leopard, have managed to delimit spaces turning them into national parks, where hunting is strictly prohibited, and have captive breeding programs and laboratories where studies are conducted to learn about this species that for years has been disappearing gradually.
However, the lack of awareness of the inhabitants has violated the special zones and therefore they have continued with the practices of hunting the leopard for fear that it will harm the population.
The positive thing is that several leopards have been born in captivity thanks to the Java leopard rescue project, the leopards are fed until they are 2 years old and they are introduced in the protection zones. Up to the moment of this note more than 34 leopards have been born, a quite positive figure that encourages to continue working so that it does not disappear.
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