Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 121, January 2015, pp. 1-20. | Page 6

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The habitat of the Anatolian Leopard (Panthera pardus tulliana Valenciennes, 1856)
which was killed in the Turkish Diyarbakir Çınar District on 03.11.2013.
http://fotogaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/galeridetay/75095/2/17/leopari-oldurmenin-cezasi-bellioldu
The last leopard in Syria is reputed to have been killed in 1963 about 20 km (12 mi) from
the Turkish border in the Al-Ansariyah Mountains. Leopards reported from the Galilee,
Occupied Palestine, the Occupied Golan Heights and the Jerusalem (Judean) Desert are
considered Arabian leopards (Panthera pardus nimr).
According to Khalaf-von Jaffa (1987, 2001, 2005) there are three different leopard
subspecies living in Palestine.
Palestine’s northern leopards, the Anatolian Leopard (Panthera pardus tulliana)
are larger and darker in colour than the desert Arabian or Nimer Leopard
(Panthera pardus nimr), which is smaller, and lighter in both weight and colour.
The Arabian Leopard is the smallest race of leopard, and one of the most
beautiful: dark spots are scattered on almost white fur. The leopards of the north
had almost completely disappeared by the 1960s. The occasional reports of
sightings are not always reliable. However, in recent years a few leopards (four)
were reported in the north of Palestine (Khalaf-von Jaffa 1987, 2001, 2005).
The conditions are not suitable for the survival and development of the northern
population. Although there is enough plant cover, and sufficient animals for
prey (Gazelle, Hyrax, Jackal, Wild Boar and Porcupine), man and his activities
may be a disturbing factor (Khalaf-von Jaffa 1987, 2001, 2005).
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 121 – January 2015