Because of their solitary and secretive nature, most leopards go unnoticed, and so are not bothered. However, leopards are easy to hunt because they can easily be scared into the trees by dogs. Leopards also follow the same arboreal pathways, so if it is studied enough, it can easily be traced. Brush fires also adversely affect the leopard, taking away necessary cover in which to hunt. Leopards, like most cats, are solitary animals, coming together only to breed.
Breeding is year-round in the tropical areas, and seasonal in the savannas.
They are slow breeders, producing 2-3 cubs every couple of years or so. Very few cubs survive to adulthood. After a gestation period of 3 months, the female gives birth to 2-3 cubs in a den. The young are carried to new places every few days to avoid the cubs falling prey to lions. The cubs stay with their mother for two years, then leave to find another territory of their own.