Aspects of the communication and feeding behaviour of captive leopards (Panthera pardus)

[摘要] English: The study on the captive leopards was conducted on the farm Masequa in the Soutpansberg district in the Soutpansberg Arid Mountain Bushveld. Field observations on five hand-reared leopards (Panthera pardus) were limited·to four adjacent leopard proof enclosures of 1.5 to 33 ha in size located in prime leopard habitat.An observational study on visual, auditory and olfactory communication of the leopards was conducted. Being a solitary animal, tactile communication is virtually absent in adult leopards, being mostly restricted to cub-cub and parent-cub interactions. Visual communication is discussed with regard to 11 facial expressions and 13 tail positions. A total of 14 vocalisations were identified (11 analysed on sonograms), that were used in the context of agonistic encounters, social interactions and mating behaviour. Olfactory signals apparently involve urine, faeces and g!andular secretions. Combinations of all three communication methods are common. It was found that leopards possess an extensive and complex array of communication methods for intra and interspecies communication.Five Body Conditions (BC) for leopards, divided in classes ranging from 1-5 were identified, where a rating 1 represented a good condition and 5 a poor condition. Selected prey species were offered to leopards in body condition 2 to 3 (hunting condition). The number of days they fed on the various carcasses as well as their behaviour and consumption were observed and values calculated. Carcasses were divided into nine carcass segments (CS) and the fat, crude protein, ash and dry material of a male impala divided into the various carcass segments classes, were determined.Feeding sequence (FS), which started at the hind intestines, were correlated with the fat percentages of the different carcass segments. In contrast, the feeding sequence was not correlated with the decreasing crude protein content of the various carcass segments.A Prey Unit (PU) was defined as a female impala (Aepyceros melampus) with an average live mass of 41 kg of which 30.75 kg is available for actual consumption. Similarly a Predator Unit (PRU) was defined as an adult, non-lactating female leopard(Panthera pardus) of 35 kg with an average daily food consumption requirement of 3.0 kg per day. From these criteria, substitution values of other predator and prey species in terms of PRU and PU were calculated.Equations were compiled from which the predator carrying capacity of a restricted area (e.g. game ranch) can be calculated for leopard. The daily feeding requirement in kg of a leopard can be calculated as follows: FR= M x SNF x LF. Explanation for symbols used: FR - feeding requirement of leopard; M - mass (kg) of leopard; SNF - sex nutritional factor based on sex with substitution values (0.0807) for male and (0.0855) for female; LF - consumption by lactating or non-lactating female, as determined by equation [1+(%/100)). The percentage value is substituted with the difference in daily consumption (kg) of a lactating female as contrasted to a non-lactating female.By means of equation Bl = M x HBV x Y x LF x SI, the impact of leopard on herbivore biomass can be calculated. Explanation for symbols used: Bl - impact of leopard on herbivore biomass; M - mass (kg) of leopard; HBV - herbivore consumption value substituting with 0.105; Y - 365 days; LF - lactating or non-lactating female as discussed above; SI - quantifies the impact of scavengers with equation [1 + (X/365)), where X represents the number of days prey was stolen from a leopard by scavengers.Depending on environmental factors, the average number of days a leopard will feed on a carcass can be calculated with equation NDF = MP x SN x SX x LF. Explanation for symbols used: NDF - Number of days feeding; MP - mass (kg) of prey; SN - season values with summer (0.2461538) and winter (0.2721088); SX - sex values where a female represents (1) and a male (0.5707559); LF - lactating or non-lactating female as discussed above.A management model for ecological sustainability in the third trophic level is introduced, which incorporates all ecological components consisting of grazer, browser, prey and predator units. With this model ecological and economical impact and sustainability can be calculated with the basic procedures discussed.

[发布机构] University of the Free State