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Schwarz, S.; Fischer, F.
Feeding ecology of leopards (_Panthera pardus_) in the Western Soutpansberg, Republic of South Africa, as revealed by scat analyses
2006 Ecotropica (12): 35-42
The feeding biology of leopards in the Lajuma Mountain Retreat (Soutpansberg), South Africa was examined by applying scat analysis. We investigated 179 scat samples for undigested hair of prey animals. Additional sources of information were other remains such as hooves, teeth, nails, and bones. Applying this technique we discovered 13 different species of prey - exclusively mammals. Two species of _Bovidae_, namely the bushbuck (_Tragelaphus scriptus_) and the common duiker (_Sylvicapra grimmia_), accounted for the majority of the leopard's prey. One primate, the vervet monkey (_Cercopithecus aethiops_), and the rock hyrax (_Procavia capensis_) were also a major component of the leopard's food. The share of rodents (Rodentia) was surprisingly small, especially if taken into account that they were abundant in the study area. Leopards showed a preference for middle-sized (20-70 kg) and small animals (5-20 kg).
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