Leopon

A Leopon is a hybrid between a male leopard and a lioness. The head of the animal is similar to a lion while the body is more similar to that of a leopard. These hybrids are produced in captivity and are very unlikely to happen in the wild.

The first documented leopon was bred at kolhapur, India in 1910. Its skin was sent to R.I. Pocock by W.S. Millard, the secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society. It was a cross between a large leopard and a lioness. Two cubs were born, one of which died aged 2.5 months and the other was still living when Pocock described it in 1912.

Pocock wrote that it was spotted like a leopard, but that the spots were smaller and closer set than those of an indian leopard and were brown and indistinct like the fading spots of a juvenile lion. The spots on the head, spin, belly and leg were black and distinct. The tail was spotted on the topside and striped underneath and had a blackish tip with longer hairs. The underside was dirty white, the ears were fawn and had a broad black bar but did not have the white spot found in leopards. Pocock wrote that the closest he had previously seen to this type of hybrid was the congolese spotted lion bred in chicago.

Personally, i feel that this creature is a marvel of nature as two complete different species came together to breed even though they could be counted as cousins. However, even though this kind of hybrids are popular with the public, it is criticsed in zoological and animal welfare circles. This is probably because the animal itself can be confused and female leopons may be torn between the solitary nature of female leopards and the social nature of a lioness. However, there is one thing i cant understand, and that is why and how can a leopard and lion be attracted to each other and if these cases can happen, why does this species not flourish.