Having an exotic pet is a wonderful experience. This will make you look rich and might raise your ego. This is the dream of many people, especially the people who love animals. One of the animals that most people dream to have is leopards.
Leopards are large, solitary cats that have a yellowish-brown or just brown coat that has black spots. They are carnivorous animals that love to hunt during the night. Leopards are widespread in the forests of Africa and Southern Asia. Yes! It is cool to have leopards as pets. However, is it possible? Can leopards be pets? Let us find out!
Can leopards be pets? Yes! It is possible to have a pet leopard in some countries and states in the USA. However, having a pet leopard is not a good idea. The reason why is because leopards need high maintenance to survive. It requires lots of money to sustain a pet leopard. Also, leopards are too dangerous to be kept inside or near your house.
Today, we will be talking about leopards and different good reasons why leopards are not good pets. You will learn lots of things about leopards today. I will tell your different facts about leopards that will make you realize that leopards are not good pets. Make sure that you read this whole article before getting a pet leopard. So, if you are ready to learn more about leopards, let us move on!
Why Are Leopards Not Good Pets?
Like I have said above, it is possible to own a pet leopard. However, even though it is possible to have a pet leopard, it is not a good idea. Many people said, including the officials, that leopards and other big cats should not be kept as pets because they can be very dangerous.
Leopards are wild animals. They can be very dangerous because of their aggressiveness. You can check out my other article here about the reason why leopards are dangerous.
Can You Train A Leopard?
It is hard to train a leopard. Yes! Leopards can be tamed but the wild instincts of leopards are still inside their blood. You must remember that these animals are one of the bosses in the jungle. They don’t listen to others and rely on their instincts. Yes! You can tame a leopard but if you do something that triggers their wild instincts, you are a dead man.
How Much Does A Leopard Cost?
One leopard can cost you a lot of money. It costs $1000-$3000, depending on lots of factors such as size, gender, age of the panther, and the conditions of the breeder. It might look easy to own one because it’s not that hard to earn $1000. Right? Keep in mind that what will burn your money in the bank is their needs.
Leopards have many needs to live. You can’t just put your pet leopard inside your house. It is dangerous and will make your pet leopard uneasy. You need to buy a large space for the cage of your pet leopard. When I say large, it means large where they can roam around and still execute some of their wild behaviors.
That is why you can only see a leopard in the zoo or a shelter. These establishments have enough money to provide for the different needs of their pet leopards. If you don’t have this kind of money, you can’t own a pet leopard. You will just waste the money that you used in getting the pet leopard that you want.
Is It Legal To Own A Pet Leopard?
You can own a pet leopard if you have managed to get a permit from the government. However, getting a permit to own an exotic animal is hard and challenging. But if you manage to get one, it is still hard to maintain the pet leopard.
In the United States of America, many states have laws that prohibit dangerous exotic animals including leopards. You can only have a permit to own a pet leopard if you proved that you can take care of it and if you can make sure that no one will get hurt because of your pet leopard.
How Dangerous Leopards Are?
Leopards are very dangerous cats. They can effortlessly kill a human being and other animals that are larger than them. I have an article that explains the different reasons why leopards are dangerous. Try checking it out.
How Fast Leopards Run?
Leopards can run up to 36 miles per hour for a short period. This is their maximum speed when running. Leopards can also jump forward 20 feet and leap 10 feet straight up, which is very amusing.
How Powerful Is Their Bite?
The bite force of leopards can be extremely powerful. Leopards have a bite force quotient of 94. However, the clouded leopard has a bite force quotient of 137, a species of leopard. Even though leopards are the smallest among the big cats, their bite can still be painful and deadly.
Are Leopards Aggressive?
Yes! Leopards are aggressive animals that always love to become aggressive. Leopards are not only dangerous and sleek, but they are also brave and tough. The level of aggressiveness leopards use depends on how big and strong their enemy is. If it is an elephant that they hunt, leopards will use their aggressive behavior to the fullest! Leopards will never back down! That is why they are very dangerous even though they are small compared to lions and tigers.
Do Leopards Attack Humans?
Yes! There are some instances where leopards attack humans. However, this happens very rarely. The reason why is because leopards avoid humans. However, even though leopards avoid humans, they can tolerate proximity to humans compared to other big cats.
However, this does not mean that leopards can still be good pets. Remember, leopards have a wild behavior and instinct inside them. Even though they have been tamed, their aggressive behavior can still be triggered.
What Do Leopards Eat?
Leopards are carnivorous animals that love to eat meat from other animals. Leopards will hunt and prey on lots of animals in the wild. They can eat buffalo and an elephant too even though they are small! Below is the list of the favorite food of leopards:
- Deers
- Pigs
- Wild Hogs
- Wild Boards
- Impalas
- Dogs
- Fishes
- Cattles
- Antelopes
- Reptiles
- Beetles
- Rodents
- Birds
- Baboons
Leopards are silent killers. They ambush their prey or stalk it. Once they successfully get close to their prey, leopards will try to pounce on their target. They will charge on their prey and will bite the neck of their prey to kill it easily.
Are Leopards An Endangered Species?
No. Leopards are not endangered species. This means that there are still a lot of leopards out in the jungle. However, this does not mean that you can forcefully get yourself one. You still have to get a license to have a pet leopard. Also, you must think about the responsibility that you will have once you get a pet leopard. So, think twice before getting one!
Final Verdict
Yes! It is not impossible to get a leopard as your pet. The only thing that you need is a license that proves that you are eligible to own one. It can be challenging to get a license to own a pet leopard but even though you managed to get one, it can still be a hard journey for you because leopards are not like dogs. Leopards need high maintenance, which means lots of money from you to live.
