Panthers are melanistic variations of leopards and jaguars, so where they live is determined by where those species naturally live. The three main continents of origin include Africa, Asia, and South America. In Asia and Africa, leopards are more prevalent. They live in densely forested places, like the African mountain slopes and tropical forests in Malaysia, Nepal, Indonesia, and China. However, jaguars live in Central and South America, where they primarily inhabit lowlands, rainforests, and savannahs.