# These Cats Are Climbing (DD-160)

> The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a big cat with a pale yellow to golden coat marked by dark rosettes. It has the widest range of any wild cat, across much of sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia, from rainforest to desert edges and mountains. Leopards are strong climbers and often haul their kills into trees, sometimes prey heavier than themselves, to keep them away from lions and hyenas. They are mostly solitary and active at night. The footage shows leopards in trees and on the ground, with the presenter.

- Department: Nature
- First published: 2024-01-04
- Last updated: 2024-01-04
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/these-cats-are-climbing/
- Original Reel title: These Cats Are Climbing 🐆
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## Quick facts

- **DD-160-F01**: Leopards have dark rosettes. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Rosettes))_
- **DD-160-F02**: They have the widest range of any wild cat. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Wide range))_

## Write-up

Leopards drag their kills up trees, away from scavengers. They live in more kinds of habitat than any other big cat.

1. **Rosettes**: Leopards have dark rosettes.
2. **Wide range**: They have the widest range of any wild cat.
3. **Africa and Asia**: They live in Africa and Asia.
4. **Tree caches**: They haul kills into trees.
5. **Solitary**: They're mostly solitary and nocturnal.

## Related case files

- [Tigers & Trees (DD-624)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/tigers-and-trees/): I linked more big cats in trees
- [Golden Monkeys (DD-161)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/golden-monkeys/): I linked another tree-climbing mammal
- [King Cobra (DD-163)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/king-cobra/): I linked another top predator

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: None needed.

## Video: These Cats Are Climbing: Leopards Drag Their Kills up Trees, Away From Scavengers

- Duration: 24.3 s · Published: 2024-01-04
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/C1q2C1cOZaE.mp4

### Transcript

Leopards, some of the most adaptable and elusive big cats, are renowned for their striking golden yellow coats covered in distinctive black rosettes and spots. They inhabit a diverse range of environments, from dense forests to open savannas, demonstrating their ability to thrive in various landscapes across Africa and Asia. Exceptional climbers and powerful predators, leopards are known for hoisting their kills into trees to protect them from scavengers. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: What marks a leopard's coat?**  
A: Dark rings. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Rosettes) · Wikipedia: Leopard)_

**Q: Where do leopards live?**  
A: Widest wild cat range. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Wide range) · Wikipedia: Leopard)_

**Q: Why do leopards haul kills into trees?**  
A: Lions and hyenas. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Africa and Asia) · Wikipedia: Leopard)_

**Q: When are leopards mostly active?**  
A: Nocturnal. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Tree caches) · Wikipedia: Leopard)_

**Q: Do leopards live in groups?**  
A: Mostly solitary. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Solitary) · Wikipedia: Leopard)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Leopard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "These Cats Are Climbing." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-160, last updated Jan 4, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/these-cats-are-climbing/