Leopard lounge: Why are leopards important?

Leopard. What comes to mind when you hear the word? A happy cat stretched out in a tree? A mysterious animal, seldom seen? A sheep killer?

Whatever your reaction, the point is that you have one! Leopards elicit emotion in a way that few other animals do.

As a species, the leopard has immense ecological value. It’s a large carnivore and therefore plays an integral role in maintaining the function and diversity of the ecosystem in which it lives.