North China panther

		North China panther
		He is a wild animal


Origin			North China
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

The possession of this animal is not authorized Royal Decree establishing the list of mammals not kept for production purposes that may be kept (M.B. 24.08.2009)

The North China panther (Panthera pardus japonensis) is one of the leopard subspecies found in northern China. This leopard is so rare that it has almost never been seen in the wild. It lives in forests and mountain meadows. Like all leopards, it feeds mainly on rodents, deer, wild goats and wild pigs.

To ensure the long-term survival of the captive population, the North China Leopard is the subject of a European captive breeding program (EEP) coordinated by Tierpark Hagenbeck.

The coat is pale yellow to black. It is covered with black spots on the head, neck and legs. The rest of the body is dotted with rosettes (a group of spots forming coarse rings). The ventral side is much lighter and the tail is ringed. This coloring allows the panther to blend into the light and shade of the trees and bushes of the savannah. Each panther has a unique pattern of spots that can be used to identify it, just as we do with our fingerprints. In winter, the Chinese panther's hair is longer, enabling it to withstand temperatures of around -30°C.

Its long, thick claws are retractable. At rest, they are folded into their sheath of flesh. They are used to grip prey or to scratch the ground or trees.
Its powerful fangs enable it to "harpoon" its prey, then pierce their hide. Its sharp-edged molars crush even the toughest bones.
Its tongue is covered with curved horny papillae that act like a rasp, enabling the animal to scrape small pieces of flesh off carcasses.
Its legs are short and its body elongated. It can leap 6 m in length and 3 m in height without difficulty. Its powerful shoulder muscles enable it to climb trees with ease

The panther is an opportunistic carnivore, feeding first on easy-to-catch prey or carrion. The North China panther's menu includes wild boar, deer, pheasant and hare. If wild prey becomes scarce, it may attack domestic animals. Thanks to its keen eyesight and powerful hearing, it is an efficient hunter in dense forests. All the more so as it is capable of attacking prey ten times its size.

A solitary hunter, it stalks, usually at night. When a prey item is spotted, she approaches it by lurking on the ground and suddenly pounces on it. She grabs it by the side or hindquarters, then kills it by biting it on the neck (breaking the cervical vertebrae) or throat (choking). It then carries the animal to the top of a tree, or covers it with earth and leaves. The panther is more at ease in the lower part of the canopy, where it can feed quietly, comfortably ensconced on a branch. It can also surprise its prey by leaping at them from a tree branch where it is lurking.

The panther is a solitary animal, but can have several partners. Males and females only stay together for a short period to mate, and then separate. This is the only time they can be seen sharing their food.

Panther density and abundance vary enormously according to habitat, the presence of suitable prey and the threats they face. Density can range from 1 to 30 animals per 100km². Each individual defends a territory whose size varies according to prey availability and habitat. Territories in arid zones are generally larger than those in forested areas. Females' territories rarely overlap, but a male's territory (around 35 km²) will include those of several females (around 13 km²).