Wild animals rarely come with birthday certificates, so age is often estimated rather than known exactly. That is one reason this archive distinguishes between exact dates and estimated ages.
Life stage tells a story
A cub, juvenile, sub-adult and adult each behave differently and face different risks. Sometimes the life stage is more useful than an exact age number.
Why age matters here
If we know roughly how old a leopard is, we can tell a richer story about growth, independence and the timing of major life events.
Wild bit: one of the most interesting things about a leopard is not just who it is — but where it is in life.