Leopard Coping Mechanisms
Leopards are predators that feed on the meat of other animals. The leopard feeds mainly on ungulates: antelope, deer, roe, and deer. Sometimes, it attacks domestic animals, including sheep and horses, and often abducts dogs. Foxes and wolves can also suffer from its attacks.Full or partial starvation causes the animal to move to another physiological level, which suggests adaptation to forced malnutrition. The fasting state, or starvation, suggests that the body consumes fewer nutrients than it spends. Under such conditions, leopards do not disdain carrion and even practice cannibalism. Kachel also report that the predator can feed on rodents, monkeys, birds, and reptiles. Therefore, the major adaptive mechanisms for the management of starvation could be better studied for this animal.
Under conditions of complete starvation, leopards do not consume food at all, while incomplete starvation suggests absence of certain nutrient only. In 2014, Higginson et al. noted that fasting is partial or qualitative, when there is a lack in a certain component of the diet with sufficient total caloric content: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and water. Complete fasting occurs when the leopard does not have the ability to eat, or because of a serious illness, when obtainment and assimilation of nutrients are impossible. The life of leopards with complete starvation is supported by the use of their own tissues. The duration of fasting in the absence of food depends primarily on the availability of water. According to Athrey, if water does not enter the body of the animal, autointoxication, blood thickening, and drop in blood pressure occur. They aggravate the fasting or may lead to rapid death of animals. Under the complete lack of food, but with sufficient water, the lifespan of a leopard depends on the external conditions and the state of the organism. The severity of starvation can be complicated by such environmental factors as low temperature, wind, high humidity, and lack in oxygen. The initial state of the animal itself can seriously affect the amount of time, for which the leopard will live. The more stores of fat and high-quality proteins the predator has, the longer life will be. Under the equal initial state, males die from hunger faster than females, whose metabolism is less intense. At the same time, younger leopards also are more likely to die from starvation. In this case, death occurs after relatively smaller loss of body weight compared to adult individuals. The time of death also depends on the excitability of the nervous system, the state of the thyroid and other endocrine glands, as well as physical load. Even a small motor activity shortens the lifetime of a fasting animal.
There are three stages of fasting, each characterized by specific clinical manifestations. The first period of fasting is short, and lasts for one-two days. Leopards have no apparent deviations from the usual condition, they are indifferent. Life is maintained mainly due to stored carbohydrates, while the respiratory coefficient is equal to one. In 2014, Kohl et al. identified that synthesis of protein is limited, the processes of deamination and transamination of amino acids are reduced, and the animal experiences negative nitrogen balance during this period. The second stage of starvation in leopards is characterized by sharp sensation of hunger, general excitement, and intensified search for food. The energy needs of the body are mainly maintained by fat oxidation, the respiratory coefficient drops to 0.7, and nitrogen balance is negative. Reorganization of metabolic processes occurs in the body of leopards during this period.According to the synthesis of new protein molecules necessary for the maintenance of life occurs due to the breakdown of other proteins. The secretory activity of digestive glands increases. Gastric juice, pancreatic juice, bile, intestinal juice are released in the increased amounts. The leopard’s organism changes from exogenous to endogenous nutrition. The mass of such organs as the heart and the brain remains about the same, while muscle tissue, liver, kidneys, and skin are substantially reduced. Functional activity of the thyroid gland and islet apparatus of the pancreas is suppressed. The basic exchange is reduced, and the saving use of energy resources is realized. In cells, the number of mitochondria decreases, the rate of free oxidation is reduced. The sugar content of the blood drops as well. The third period of fasting is characterized by the predominant use of protein for energy purposes. Breakdown of structural proteins of vital organs takes place, which increases the release of nitrogen by the kidneys with urine. Spontaneous secretion of glands of the gastrointestinal tract stops. Protein depletion leads to death of the animal.
Therefore, leopards can survive without eating for several days, and it will not be starvation or fasting. After hunting, the predator can get all the necessary nutrients for proper and healthy functioning. In case of partial starvation, the animal takes some nutrients or water, and thus, it can survive. Under full starvation, the leopard does not get nutrients and water, and this condition can cause death.
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