African Leopard

One of the primary threats to the leopard is human activity. Habitat fragmentation, reduced prey base, and human-wildlife conflict have greatly reduced this species’ population throughout most of their range.

The commercialized bush meat trade has caused a collapse of prey populations across large parts of savannah Africa - estimated an average of 59 percent decline in prey populations across 78 protected areas.

Leopards have long been hunted for their soft fur - used to make coats and ceremonial robes - as well as for their claws, whiskers, and tails, which are popular as fetishes. When brought into close contact with human settlements, they may prey on livestock. Pastoralists will retaliate and kill the big cats in retribution or will attempt to exterminate them in order to prevent livestock killings.