Muli County, Liangshan, Sichuan Province, recently set off a surprise, and the infrared camera captured a rare image of a leopard playing in the woods with its cubs. This image is precious because it is the first time that the county has recorded the moment when the leopard goes out with its cubs, and these "leopards" are not simple felines, although they are apex predators, they face many difficulties in growing up in their juvenile stage.
The leopard resembles a tiger, but it is only one-third the size of a tiger and slightly larger than the snow leopard, which also belongs to the leopard genus. They are named after the plum blossom-like markings on their bodies, which sparkle like ancient copper coins. However, despite being nature's higher-order predators, the survival rate of the golden leopard's cubs is not optimistic.
When the cubs are born, the mother will hide them in hidden nests such as tree hollows or rock crevices, then go out to hunt and return to care for the cubs as soon as possible. Even so, the first year of survival in the wild is still the most dangerous stage. More than 50% of leopard cubs in Africa are difficult to reach adulthood, and they face threats from lions, hyenas, pythons and even monkey packs.
Not only in Africa, but also in Asia, the leopard is also under threat. In addition to tigers, which are potential killers of leopard cubs, other predators such as jackals, wolves, lynxes, bears, etc., are lurking threats to leopard cubs. Even as a good hunter, the leopard will sometimes show mercy, such as killing the mother monkey and showing mercy to the baby monkey, but this temporary benevolence does not ensure the adult rate of the young leopard.
After 12 to 18 months of life, the cubs gradually begin to live independently. Usually, young females stay near their mother's territory temporarily, while males gradually move away until they have their own territory.
As a species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the leopard is a national first-class key protected wild animal. Their migration and settlement status directly reflect the overall state of the regional ecosystem and are important indicators of ecological quality. The picture of the leopard with its cubs was photographed in Muli County, Liangshan, which objectively showed the effective improvement of the local ecological environment.
The leopard, as the spirit of nature, not only shows its majesty as an apex predator, but also shows amazing love in its fertility and reproduction. However, the challenges faced by the cubs as they grow up make people pray for their growth. May this miracle of life continue under the protection of human beings, so that this world is still full of the figure of the leopard, shining with the light of life.