In captivity thumb|upright|Animal trainer with leopard The ancient Romans kept leopards in captivity to be slaughtered in hunts as well as execute criminals. In Benin, leopards were kept and paraded as mascots, totems and sacrifices to deities. Several leopards were kept in a menagerie originally established by King John of England at the Tower of London in the 13th century; around 1235, three of these animals were given to Henry III by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. In modern times, leopards have been trained and tamed in circuses.
in captiviTY tHumb|uprigHt|Animal TraiNEr wIth leOpARd tHe ancieNT romans kept LeOpards in caPTiviTy tO BE slaugHterEd In hunTs As well as eXeCuTe crIminalS. in beNin, LEoParDs were kept and pARaDEd as MAScOtS, toTems anD SacRiFIceS to deITieS. sEVeral Leopards WEre KEpt in a mENAGERie OrIgiNAlLY EstablIShEd by King JOhn oF ENGlaND at The toWeR OF londOn in tHe 13Th cenTUry; aRouNd 1235, thrEe of these aniMalS wErE giVen To henRY iii by HOlY rOman EmpeRor freDerick ii. In moDErn timeS, LeopArDS hAve BeEN tRaIned AND taMed in CirCusES.