Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 108, December 2013, pp. 26-42. | Page 6

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is greatly fragmented.
Leopards and lions no longer cast genes across vast areas. Very often, they are
left in smaller preserves, where it is very easy for genetic bottlenecks to form.
Dominant males, which rule prides in lions and overlapping territories of
females in leopards, are not overthrown on a regular basis, making it more and
more likely for a male to wind up mating with his daughters. New blood in the
form of enterprising young males no longer enters the gene pool?.
Madikwe is actually trying to solve some of these problems. There is a current
move to create a corridor between it and Pilanesberg National Park. This corridor
would allow more of a gene flow to exist between populations of lions and
leopards, and it would be a great asset to genetic sustainability of wildlife in this
region (Retrieverman, 2012).
This is more and more of a problem than one might expect. Leopards are
considered ?near threatened? by IUCN, and lions are considered ?vulnerable,? a
much more serious distinction. If lions and leopards cannot exchange genes over
a larger area, the better for both species. Neither has experienced much
inbreeding in their natural history, and thus, they have not had an opportunity
to experience much purging or evolve any inbreeding tolerance (Retrieverman,
2012).
Unusually colored wild animals often attract attention, but they can be indicative
of more serious problems. This cat seems to be doing fine. Let’s just hope the
population in which he lives will continue to thrive (Retrieverman, 2012).
Retrieverman (2012) added: ?I should note that there are situations in which
recessives can exist at much higher levels than one might normally expect.
One of these traits has a certain selective advantage; it will appear much more
frequently than normal recessives. Among these is melanism in leopards.
Melanistic leopards are most common in jungle or rainforest environments —
particularly in Southeast Asia– where it may confer an advantage. A black cat
can easily hide the shadows of the night, and because leopards are
the consummate ambush predators, this might explain why there are so many
black leopards– even though this is a recessive trait.
There is some suggestion now in the literature that melanism may also enhance
the immune system. But if recessives do not confer any advantage, they normally
aren’t very common at all?.

Etymology
The word panther derives from classical Latin panth?ra, itself from the ancient
Greek pánth?r (??????) meaning "large spotted cat". The Greek word is likely
a loan word, but the source language is unknown. An incorrect folk
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 108 – December 2013