One of Africa’s most iconic and elusive predators, the leopard (Panthera pardus), is facing a mounting fight for survival, conservationists warned today, marking International Leopard Day with urgent calls for action.
Once occupying nearly 35 million square kilometers across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, leopards have now vanished from more than 75% of their historic range, according to recent data. In Zimbabwe, where some of the continent’s healthiest populations remain, the species has seen a 41% reduction in territory.
“Leopards are perhaps the perfect predators—strong, agile, and incredibly stealthy,” said Peter Knights, CEO of Wild Africa. “If we can promote tools for them to coexist with expanding agriculture, they are highly adaptable and will survive. If not, they face the same fate as other large cats—extinction.”
Classified globally as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), leopards face mounting threats from habitat loss, poaching, and escalating human-wildlife conflict. Their decline is particularly pronounced outside protected areas, where land clearance for agriculture and infrastructure is forcing the big cats into human-dominated landscapes.
In these spaces, leopards often prey on livestock, provoking retaliatory killings by farmers. Simultaneously, the illegal wildlife trade continues to decimate populations, especially in parts of West and Southern Africa, where leopard skins, teeth, claws, and bones are trafficked for traditional and commercial purposes.
Despite these pressures, sub-Saharan Africa—particularly Zimbabwe—still holds strongholds of leopard populations. National parks such as Hwange, Gonarezhou, Mana Pools, and Matusadona, as well as private conservancies like Sango Game Reserve, offer refuge. The IUCN considers Zimbabwe’s leopard population to be “stable” and among the healthiest across the species’ global range.
Still, conservationists warn that even within these protected areas, leopards are not safe.
“Protecting leopards means safeguarding the future of both nature and humanity,” said Dr. Moreangels Mbizah, Executive Director of Wildlife Conservation Action. “As an African woman and conservationist, I see leopards not just as wildlife, but as part of who we are. They are woven into the stories, landscapes, and spirit of our communities.”
The leopard’s slow reproductive rate further complicates recovery efforts. Females produce only two to three cubs every two years, and offspring remain dependent for up to 18 months, making population rebounds slow and fragile.
To address the crisis, Zimbabwe has implemented a national Leopard Conservation Strategy and Action Plan, which aims to protect habitat, curb poaching, and support coexistence through community engagement.
Organizations like Wild Africa are urging governments, donors, and the public to intensify support. “Saving leopards requires inclusive, collaborative efforts rooted in science and guided by the lived experiences of the communities who coexist with these animals,” Dr. Mbizah said.
On this International Leopard Day, Wild Africa is calling on stakeholders to “save a spot” for leopards, emphasizing that the survival of this apex predator is crucial not just for biodiversity, but for the long-term health of ecosystems across the continent.
For media inquiries, contact:
Dumisani Chihoto
Public Relations Consultant, Wild Africa, Zimbabwe
Tel: +263 77 842 0369
Email: dumisani@wildafrica.org
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