The Leopard: Present vs Future

Leopards found in the Central African Republic range in the rainforests of the Congo Basin. They have spots to camouflage themselves in the wild, and their strong legs and long tails enable them to climb trees to hunt for food. This makes them efficient forest hunters. But because of climate change, they are losing habitats because, when trees are felled, for instance, in the Congo Basin, rainforests are being cleared to create open grasslands with reduced shade. In the future, to survive, leopards may undergo evolutionary changes to adapt. They might grow shorter fur to keep themselves cool, longer legs to enable them to hunt faster, and lighter coats to help them blend with the open grasslands.