Leopard

The ancient Romans kept leopards in captivity to be used in the executions of criminals. Leopards were considered to be a symbol of ferocity and danger, and their use in executions was meant to strike fear into the hearts of the people.

In 1235 the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II sent King Henry III of England three leopards to mark his wedding to Eleanor of Provence, the emperor's sister.

The first leopard to be exhibited in the United States was shown by Othello Pollard in Boston, Massachusetts in 1802. It cost 25 cents to see the 'import from Bengal'.

The puma and the leopard are the highest jumping mammals. They are able to reach a height of 16.5 feet. 

Unlike lions, leopards do not live in groups. The adult males live separately, and the females live only with their cubs.

A group of leopards is called a leap.

When a female leopard is ready to mate she will give a scent and rub her body on the trees to leave her smell there.

A leopard’s tail is just about as long as its entire body. This helps it with balance and enables it to make sharp turns quickly.

Leopards are known for their ability in climbing, and have been observed resting on tree branches during the day, dragging their prey up trees and hanging them there, keeping it safe from hyenas and lions.

Leopards are the only natural predators of adult chimpanzees and gorillas. They do not generally eat humans,, unless they are starving. A leopard in India is believed to have eaten more than 125 people.

What's the difference between a jaguar and a leopard? Jaguars have broad heads, thick bodies, and dots in their rosettes, while leopards are slimmer and don't have dots in their rosettes.