Movement patterns and athletic performance of leopards in the Okavango Delta

Leopards in the Okavango Delta exhibit distinct movement patterns and athletic performance, with activity peaking during twilight hours. Using high-resolution GPS/IMU collars, researchers recorded short, slow runs (maximum speed 5.3 m/s) and daily travel distances averaging 11 km, with no correlation to temperature or season. The study provides novel insights into the locomotor energetics of leopards, demonstrating their adaptability in diverse habitats while avoiding methodological biases of previous studies.

Hubel, T. Y., Golabek, K. A., Rafiq, K., McNutt, J. W., & Wilson, A. M. (2018). Movement patterns and athletic performance of leopards in the Okavango Delta. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 285(1877), 20172622. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.2622