During the early 19th century leopards inhabited all suitable habitats in Israel. The Judean Mountains, Carmel and Ramot Menashe leopards were eliminated between the end of the 19th century and 1920.
| Name: |
Leopard |
| Latin Name: |
Panthera pardus |
| Hebrew name: |
נמר, namer |
| Order: |
Carnivora |
| Family: |
Felidae |
| Distribution: |
A relict sub-population in the Judean Desert, a small sub-population in the Negev Highlands. Isolated individuals found in the Mediterranean region. |
| Habitat: |
All habitats except cliffs or shifting sands. |
| Notes: |
During the early 19th century leopards inhabited all suitable habitats in Israel. The Judean Mountains, Carmel and Ramot Menashe leopards were eliminated between the end of the 19th century and 1920. The Galilee leopards (between 1925-1956 at least 14 leopards were hunted or poisoned in this area) followed in their wake. The Judean Desert population probably reached its peak in the 1980s, when it comprised 8-10 adult leopards, but declined from 1986 to the end of the 20th century . |
