Editing Leopard (section)

===Reproduction and life cycle===
{{multiple image |perrow=1 |image2=Leopards mating.jpg |caption2=Leopards mating |image3=David Raju Leopard 3457 (cropped).jpg |caption3=Leopard cubs in tree}}

In some areas, leopards mate all year round. In [[Manchuria]] and [[Siberia]], they mate during January and February. On average, females begin to breed between the ages of 2½ and three, and males between the ages of two and three.<ref name=CAP/> The female's [[estrous cycle]] lasts about 46 days, and she is usually in heat for 6–7 days.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1111/j.1748-1090.1966.tb01746.x |author=Sadleir, R. |year=1966 |title=Notes on the Reproduction of the larger Felidae |journal=International Zoo Yearbook|volume=6 |pages=184–187}}</ref> [[Gestation]] lasts for 90 to 105 days.<ref>{{cite book |author=Hemmer, H. |year=1976 |chapter=Gestation period and postnatal development in felids |pages=143–165 |editor=Eaton, R.L. |title=The World's Cats |volume=3 |publisher=Carnivore Research Institute, Univ. Washington, Seattle}}</ref> Cubs are usually born in a [[Litter (zoology)|litter]] of 2–4 cubs.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Eaton, R.L. |year=1977 |title=Reproductive biology of the leopard |journal=Zoologischer Garten |volume=47 |issue=5 |pages =329–351}}</ref> The mortality rate of cubs is estimated at 41–50% during the first year.<ref name="bailey93" /> Predators are the biggest cause for leopard cub mortality during their first year. Male leopards are known to cause [[infanticide (zoology)|infanticide]], in order to bring the female back into heat.<ref name=Kingdon/> Intervals between births average 15 to 24 months, but can be shorter, depending on the survival of the cubs.<ref name=CAP/>

Females give birth in a cave, crevice among boulders, hollow tree or thicket. Newborn cubs weigh {{Cvt|280-1000|g}}, and are born with closed eyes, which open four to nine days after birth.<ref name=WCW/><ref name=mammal/> The fur of the young tends to be longer and thicker than that of adults. Their pelage is also more gray in colour with less defined spots. They begin to eat meat at around nine weeks.<ref name="Kingdon"/> Around three months of age, the young begin to follow the mother on hunts. At one year of age, cubs can probably fend for themselves, but will remain with the mother for 18–24 months.<ref name=CMBC>{{cite web |url=https://brainmuseum.org/Specimens/carnivora/leopard/index.html |title=Leopard (''Panthera pardus''); Physical characteristics and distribution |work=Comparative Mammalian Brain Collections |access-date=2008-06-07 |archive-date=2011-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103183140/http://www.brainmuseum.org/specimens/carnivora/leopard/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> After separating from their mother, sibling cubs may travel together for months.<ref name=CAP/> Both male and female leopards typically reach sexual maturity at 2–2⅓ years.<ref name=Kingdon/>

The [[Generation time|generation length]] of the leopard is 9.3 years.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Generation length for mammals |last1=Pacifici |first1=M. |last2=Santini |first2=L. |last3=Di Marco |first3=M. |last4=Baisero |first4=D. |name-list-style=amp |last5=Francucci |first5=L. |last6=Grottolo Marasini |first6=G. |last7=Visconti |first7=P. |last8=Rondinini |first8=C. |journal=Nature Conservation |year=2013 |issue=5 |pages=87–94}}</ref>
The average life span of a leopard is 12–17 years.<ref name=WCW/> 
The oldest leopard was a captive female that died at the age of 24 years, 2 months and 13 days.<ref>{{cite news |author=Salisbury, S. |date=2014 |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/roxanne-oldest-spotted-leopard-in-captivity-dies-a/ngyYc/ |title=Roxanne, oldest spotted leopard in captivity, dies at Acreage preserve |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |archive-date=2014-08-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811165340/http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/roxanne-oldest-spotted-leopard-in-captivity-dies-a/ngyYc/}}</ref>