Tooth and Claw: Leopards

Discovery

BBC

Science, Technology

4.3 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 21 July 2025

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Investigating an elusive big cat known for its excellent tree climbing abilities - the leopard! This master of camouflage is found from the south of Africa to the far east of Asia – a spotted predator that stalks and ambushes its prey!

Presenter Adam Hart will investigate their relationships with tigers and lions, as well as learning about a recent discovery that leopards each have their own unique roar. He’ll also discuss the future of the Arabian leopard and the potential for a reintroduction to Saudi Arabia, and find out about the role of synthetic fur capes known as ‘Heritage Furs’ in leopard conservation.

Contributors:

Dr. Gareth Mann, who is based in South Africa, is Leopard Program Director for Panthera, the global wild cat conservation organisation.

Dr. Charlotte Searle, postdoctoral researcher and conservationist based in Tanzania, who is associated with the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford.

Presenter: Professor Adam Hart Producer: Jonathan Blackwell

Photo: Leopard in tree Credit: Valentin Wolf via Getty Images

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	I'm Mariana Spring, the BBC's social media investigations correspondent.
0:06.3	In my podcast, I've been investigating what happened to the daughter of a conspiracy theorist
0:10.9	who died having rejected chemotherapy.
0:13.5	It would mean the world to me if I could make it that she wasn't just another in the long line of people that die in this way.
0:18.9	How does this reflect the rise of health conspiracy theories on social media and beyond?
0:24.8	The new series of Mariana in Conspiracy Land. Listen on BBC Sounds.
0:34.1	You're listening to Discovery from the BBC World Service.
0:37.3	I'm Adam Hart and this is Tooth and Claw,
0:39.6	the series where I explore are complex and challenging relationships
0:43.3	with Earth's greatest predators,
0:45.4	through the people who have spent their lives studying,
0:48.3	protecting and at times narrowly escaping them.
0:56.5	Today's predator is a master of camouflage who stalks and ambushes its prey.
1:01.4	So elusive, they're able to exist in places close to people whilst remaining unseen.
1:06.9	Incredibly adaptive, this big cat can be found from jungles to deserts,
1:13.4	mountains to savannas, across Africa and Asia,
1:16.4	and is particularly well known for its tree climbing abilities.
1:20.0	It's time to talk about my favourite big cat, the leopard.
1:23.7	Joining me, a Dr. Gareth Mann, who's based in South Africa.
1:26.1	He's the Leopard Program Director for Panthera,
1:28.0	the Global Wildcat Conservation Organisation.
1:33.2	And Dr. Charlotte Searle, a postdoctoral researcher and conservationist based in Tanzania.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.