Felines are not only good-looking, but also brave and powerful, tigers and leopards will also genetically mutate and produce offspring of different colors, such as white lions, golden tigers, and black panthers.
Leopard fur is usually a yellow background, covered with dark spots, with natural beauty, but also can play a hidden role. However, the leopard is very "fickle", not only will it turn into a black panther with a black body, but also a pink red leopard.
The red leopard, also known as the strawberry leopard and the pink leopard, is named after a pink strawberry fur. Because wild red leopards are so rare, they have only been found in South Africa and India.
Recently, a tourist in South Africa witnessed a red leopard slowly walking through the bushes, climbing swiftly to a tree, looking out for a while and then jumping down, probably in search of prey.
01:1 was nibbling on giraffes, 1 was barking for a mate, and 1 was hunted
The first time the Red Panther appeared was in South Africa! It was still 2012, and a tour guide stumbled upon an elegant leopard with pink fur and almost couldn't believe his eyes. Later, scientists also used infrared cameras to photograph the red leopard, confirming the existence of the red leopard.
In 2019, in a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa, photographers found and photographed red leopards. At that time, a robust adult red leopard was nibbling on a giraffe, fierce and majestic, and when he looked back, his eyes were sharp and full of kingly demeanor.
In 2021, in the primeval forest of India, a majestic red leopard with pink fur was photographed. Red leopards roam the forest, making strange calls from time to time. Experts believe it is likely that it is looking for a spouse.
Pink leopards, as rare as they are, are as precious as they are, so they are also coveted by poachers. A red leopard was reportedly hunted in South Africa. Poachers want to trade their fur for money in a unique color.
In addition, 2 red leopards died in road killings. The number of red leopards is very small, and there are actually 2 who are just killed by the car!
02: Less than 10 in the world! It has a strawberry-like color, mysterious whereabouts, and high camouflage skills
Since the appearance of the red leopard, not only has scientists pursued it for a long time, but also many animal lovers have been obsessed with it. But the number of red leopards found in the wild is very small, and the number is very small, less than 10 worldwide.
Usually, wild animals have genetic mutations that cause skin color changes, either "whitening" or "blackening", almost no pink like the red leopard, and exceptionally beautiful.
The size of the red leopard is the same as that of the leopard, but the leopard print on the body is not a mysterious and majestic black spot on a yellow background, but a pink background, dotted with light brown spots, like a pink strawberry, which is both strange and beautiful.
Despite the pink color of the fur, its majesty remains undiminished. According to the photographer who tracked the red leopard, the red leopard is haunted, and it is very difficult to find its tracks. Moreover, the red leopard is extremely vigilant, and it can sense movement in the distance. While he was filming, the red leopard suddenly turned his eyes back, as if to warn.
In addition, the red leopard is also very camouflaged, and when it travels through sparse bushes, as long as it does not make a big move, you will not be able to find it at all.
Therefore, even if it is covered with rare and unique fur, it is still a good hunter, and the color of the fur does not seem to hinder its hunting.
03: New Species! Changes due to loss of melanin, changes caused by excess red pigment
Why does the red leopard have such a peculiar pink color? Scientists believe that it is because of the leopard's natural genetic variation, the melanin in the hair is missing, and the red pigment is precipitated too much, which will show a fainter pink color, rare and rare.
Very few cats will "change color", and an excess of melanin will lead to blackening, just like black panthers and black tigers; If all pigments are missing, albinos will appear.
However, the situation is different for the red leopard, which, according to studies, is heritable, making the red leopard a new breed in the leopard family.
Strawberry leopards are genetically recessive, and two leopards carrying this gene at the same time can mate to give birth to red leopard cubs.
In South Africa, scientists used infrared cameras to monitor red leopards and saw a warm scene, a female leopard with 2 cubs, walking slowly, one of which is a leopard cub.
04: Get along well with the leopards of normal coat color and play next to each other
Red leopards are rare, and after being identified as a new species and can be inherited, some people asked if captive leopards can give birth to red leopards.
Although the probability is very low, a year later, a pink red leopard is born, and another leopard of a mother and a sibling is a normal flower color, which even biologists find strange.
In the process of growing up, in addition to the difference in skin color, the size, appearance and living habits of the red leopard are the same as the normal color of the leopard. The scene of the family getting along is very warm. Usually, the little red leopard and the little leopard play next to each other, rub each other's heads, and fight with each other, very cute, very cute.
But in the face of food, the red leopard does not lose the wild nature of plunder, with the fierceness of the leopard, after eating enough, jumped to a high place, opened its mouth to show satisfaction. Agile and fast.
The habits of the red leopard are the same as those of leopards, which are diurnal and nocturnal, and are more active at night, although in captivity, there is no need to wander late at night to hunt.
Wild red leopards, on the other hand, have the ability to hunt and survive in the wild, are good at running, climbing trees, and have the ability to hunt when facing wild deer, antelopes and other prey.
epilogue
Although the red leopard is also called strawberry leopard, the name is very fresh and cute, and the skin color is unusual, but it is still a leopard in its bones, with the courage and swiftness of a leopard.