Range:  British Isles.  China, Indo-China, India, Southern Arabia and the southern half of Africa.

Size:  Male approx 2.5 meters including tail.  Female approx2.0 meters including tail.

Weight:  Ranges from 40-80 kilos.

Diet:  Mammals and some birds.  Rabbits would probably be the main diet in the UK.  They will also take Muntjak Deer and Chinese Water Deer.  Sheep are sometimes taken.

Mating:  Non-seasonal, with a gestation period of 90-105 days, birthing  between 1-6 cubs.

Pound for pound the Black Leopard is probably the most evolved predator cat on earth.  Some say, the most aggressive and feared animal in the world.  They are extremely secretive and solitary animals, only coming together to mate.  They are believed to be capable of killing prey up to 550 kilos.  Thier territories, which they patrol with vigour, are about 12 square miles.  This is thought to be greater in the UK.  They are supreme tree climbers and can leap to 6-8 meters up a tree trunk from the ground.

Black Leopards are  not fussy eaters, usually hunting at night or very early in the morning.  They prefer to remain hidden during daylight hours,  resting and sleeping.  A Black Leopard is a spotted Leopard with black fur (see Melanistic).  The spots of the leopard can be seen under the black colour in the right lighting conditions.

The Black Leopard is a rarely seen, and unoffcially recognised species, living and breeding in the UK.  The Black Leopard has a highly proven track record as a man eater.