Leopard Cub Facts

Beginnings

• Female leopards remain pregnant for about 100 days, giving birth to litters of about two to three cubs, which have a grayish coloring with the faintest constellation of spots. The young leopards are suckled for three or four months, the first two of which are spent in relative seclusion as the cubs are hidden inside their mother's den. These dens are already difficult to find; female leopards often choose spots in caves, tree hollows or rock piles.

Venturing Outside

• Leopard cubs are able to walk within two weeks of their birth, but rarely venture outside of the den before their eighth week. Cubs continue to stay inside while their mother is absent, but often play and explore the outside world upon her return.

Hunting

• Though still consuming their mother's milk, young cubs begin to eat meat at about six weeks of age. At four months, they are weaned, and begin to join their mother when she hunts. They practice their hunting skills by hiding, pouncing, stalking, and sneaking up on each other. Their first individual kills are usually small -- insects, rodents or birds. Their prey eventually become larger and larger, and the involvement of their mother in their hunting becomes less and less prevalent.

Cub Futures

• Half of all leopard cubs die before their first birthday. The surviving cubs are usually self-sufficient by 18 months of age. Young female leopards often remain close to home, living on or near their mother's hunting range. Male leopards move farther away to establish their own hunting grounds. By age 2, the young leopards are considered mature.