Leopard Spotted in Downtown Chicago!

Residents and tourists in downtown Chicago were excited to spot a leopard roaming the streets near the Willis Tower on Wednesday morning.

The leopard was seen by several people including construction workers and office employees who were shocked to see the big cat. The leopard was estimated to be around four feet long and weighed about 60 pounds.

One man, Carlos, who works at a nearby restaurant said, "I couldn't believe it when I saw it. It was just walking around like it owned the place."

Chicago Police were notified and officers responded to try and capture the animal, but it managed to escape into a nearby building. Animal control officers were also called to help with the search.

This is not the first time that a wild animal has been spotted in downtown Chicago. In October of last year, a coyote was seen near Millennium Park and in 2014 a deer was spotted in the Loop.

Rare Leopard Caught on Camera in Oklahoma

For the first time in over a century, a leopard has been captured on camera in Oklahoma. The black and gold cat was photographed by a motion-activated game camera set up near a deer feeder on a ranch in McIntosh County.

Leopards are typically shy animals and don't often come into contact with people, so it's unclear how long the leopard has been living in Oklahoma. But officials with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife say they're glad to have photographic evidence of the animal's presence in the state.

Leopards are native to Africa and Asia, but they have been known to wander into North America on occasions. There have been occasional sightings of leopards in Texas and New Mexico, but this is the first confirmed sighting of a leopard in Oklahoma since 1910.

Officials believe there may be more than one leopard living in Oklahoma, and they are asking for the public's help in documenting any additional sightings. If you see a leopard, please do not approach it and instead contact the Department of Wildlife immediately.

Leopards are classified as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, meaning they face a high risk of extinction in the wild. Habitat loss and poaching are among the biggest threats to leopards worldwide.

Leopard Escapes from San Diego Zoo

Authorities are currently searching for a leopard that escaped from the San Diego Zoo Wednesday morning.

According to zoo officials, the leopard, a 5-year-old male named Koda, somehow managed to get out of his enclosure at around 6:15 a.m. KTLA5

Zoo staff and security are currently canvassing the area for the animal, but as of now, Koda remains on the loose.

The leopard is described as being tan with black spots and measuring about 3 feet long. He was last seen in the area of Park Boulevard and Zoo Place.

If you see Koda, please do not try to approach him and instead contact San Diego Zoo authorities immediately.

Mountain Lion Killed After Being Confused for Leopard

On Wednesday, a mountain lion was killed after being confused for a leopard by a game warden in California.

The mountain lion, which was estimated to be about two years old, was roaming in the backyard of a home in La Crescenta when it was mistaken for the leopard.

A representative from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said that the animal was killed "in the interest of public safety".

This is not the first time that a mountain lion has been mistaken for a leopard; in fact, there have been several cases of this happening over the past few years.

In March 2017, a mountain lion was killed after it was spotted in a residential neighbourhood in Simi Valley. Police officers shot the animal after attempts to tranquilise it failed.

In October 2015, a mountain lion cub was killed after it was spotted in a residential area near Los Angeles International Airport.

And in December 2014, another mountain lion cub met the same fate after it was seen in an industrial area near downtown Los Angeles.

Are Leopards Making a Comeback?

In many parts of Africa, leopards are considered to be among the most endangered big cats. However, recent studies suggest that their populations may be on the rise.

Leopard populations have suffered in recent years due to poaching and habitat loss. However, a recent study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison has shown that leopards may be making a comeback.

The study looked at leopard populations in 24 different countries across Africa. The results showed that leopard populations are stable or increasing in 17 of those countries.

This is good news for leopards, and it suggests that they may not be as endangered as previously thought. However, it is important to note that the study did not look at all African countries, so the situation may be different in other parts of the continent.

Leopards are still considered to be vulnerable by the IUCN, and they continue to face many threats. Habitat loss is still a major problem for them, and they are also threatened by poaching and conflict with humans.

Nevertheless, these new findings suggest that there is hope for the future of Africa's leopards. If we can work together to protect these animals from poachers and habitat loss, then their populations may continue to grow.