"The leopard is the ultimate cat. It makes the lion and the tiger appear overblown and all other members of the cat family look puny. Whereas lions hunt in the open and then share their kill, the leopard is solitary, stealthy and selfish. This cat ambushes its prey and then carries it high into a tree, where it can dine alone. The leopard has commanded respect and awe in mankind for centuries. Considered the 'perfect predator', capable of frustrating the most dedicated big game hunter, leopards are vicious, agile and deadly animals who will even attack humans when cornered or challenged. In Leopard Desmond Morris shows all sides of the animal's character: its athletic elegance, its predatory skill, its wary shyness, its cunning intelligence, its parental devotion, its preference for solitary living and even its capacity to seek revenge. Morris traces the evolution of leopards, their roles as pets and in circuses, their conservation and current habitat threats. He also describes their rich symbolism, and looks at the leopard print in fashion, both haute couture and high street, as well as the leopard in art, literature, film and popular culture."--Page 4 of cover.