Their competition with other large predators is reduced because they prey on a wide variety of birds and small mammals including the hare, hyrax, and jackal. Their larger prey includes impalas, Thomson's gazelles, and young wildebeest calves. Occasionally, they will prey on larger antelope species. However, because it hunts alone, its success in hunting larger animals is limited.
Since the solitary leopard is unable to defend its kill on the ground from scavenging lions and hyenas which travel in groups, it will often pull its kill onto a branch of a tree where it may leave it unattended for hours. Other predators rarely go through the trouble of scavenging the leopards kills from trees. Unlike the cheetah, which only eats fresh meat, the leopard will feed on carrion for days.
