LEOPARD: Renowned for its stealth and grace, the leopard is perhaps the best stalker among the big cats. Its spotted coat allows it to blend in with its environment almost completely. Most animals don't have a chance to flee before the leopard is upon them. It typically attacks the throat, strangling its victim while holding the animal down with its muscular forelimbs. Once the struggle is over, the leopard will haul its prize up a tree, even if the carcass is several times the cat's own weight. It is one of the most varied of the wild cats, both in terms of appearance — it can weigh as little as 60 pounds or as much as 200 — and prey preference. It has been known to prey on wildebeests, jackals, baboons, storks, small rodents and even dung beetles. One of the most far-ranging cats in the world, the leopard once roamed from the British Isles to Japan. Today it is found in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. It lives in a wide variety of habitats, from desert to mountains to tropical forests.