Leopards have many enemies in the wild, including hyenas, jackals, lions, tigers, bears and wild dogs. Humans are also a major threat to leopards due to urban sprawl, poaching and farmland defense. Leopards are solitary predators, so they lack the inherent protection afforded by sheer numbers.
The leopard is one of the "big cats," which include the lion, tiger, jaguar and leopard, and they can be found in sub-Saharan and northeastern Africa, India, Central Asia and China.
The leopard is valued for its spotted fur, which ranges in use from ceremonial dress for African tribesmen to supporting the exotic furs trade abroad. Therefore, hundreds of leopards fall victim to poaching and unregulated trophy hunting every year.