Leopards (Panthera pardus) are common in Ngorongoro Crater because of its combination of dense woodlands and a constant supply of prey that suits their solitary, stealthy hunting style. The Lerai Forest and acacia thickets along the rim of the crater offers cover for stalking and ambushing animals such as bushbucks, baboons, and young zebras. They consume up to twenty pounds of meat per kill and snack on smaller mammals or birds. They will haul their prey into trees to eat. Permanent streams and springs provide water and the enclosed nature of the crater allows for stable populations of prey while reducing competition from outside predators. Their spotted camouflaged coats allow them to blend in with the dappled sunlight, while their agility in climbing trees gives them added safety, making Ngorongoro a prime habitat for these elusive cats.
Bison are a prominent animal species found in parks due to their spectacular nature. Often grazing in herds around the parks, bison, for the most part can be found roaming around in the mountains and grasslands during the summer and are known to hibernate during the winters.
The huge bone structure body of bison or in simpler words, their belly, assists them in balancing out during movements. All bison belong to the large horned type of cattle, which is visually distinctive due to the large frontal bone plate of the skull referred to as “the trophy skull”. This bone has a bison’s head mounted on it, which accounts for their head’s increasing size. Hence, this allows them to freely move their head.
The Ngorongoro Crater acts as a home for heaps of wildlife including zebras and springs. They are considered to be in excess due to the crater’s ideal conditions. It covers an area of 260 square kilometres which serves as a scoop shaped glacier. Along with grasslands, the crater also has volcanos.
Unlike these fellow volcanoes, the crater has a permanent supply of water springs and lakes like Lake Magadi. All this serves and sustains the residing wildlife. The great thing about this enclosed sanctuary is that it is bound to have a yearly supply of crops as it contains an abundance of nutrient rich grasses which acts as food for wildlife.
The grazers in this area can consume anything from 15 pounds of grains to slightly less, serving to make up the population and causing the water supply to remain high especially during the dry season. Due to all these factors, it makes the area a paradise for grazers who are constantly under the threat of being hunted down by lions.
Unlike the greatly known Serengeti migration, these resources free up the grazers and allow them to become residents. Driven in large herds of thousands, these animals as stated also roam around the area and act as a dynamo for this natural haven.