One of Africa’s most iconic spotted big cats is running out of space, and out of time. Globally, leopards have lost nearly 75% of their historical range and have lost approximately 41% of their range in Zimbabwe.
Without urgent intervention to mitigate habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict, we could lose leopards forever. This International Leopard Day, conservation groups highlight the urgent need to protect remaining leopard populations and the wild spaces they roam.
Despite their wide distribution, leopards are listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with populations continuously decreasing. Leopards once roamed across nearly 35 million square kilometers throughout Africa, the Middle East and Asia, but today the 75% decline of their natural range has led to only 8.5 million square kilometers.
The animals once roamed across more than 35 African countries, thriving in diverse habitats ranging from the savannas of East Africa and deserts of Southern Africa to the rainforests of West Africa and the mountains of North Africa.
There is no reliable estimate on the number of leopards left in Africa, although there is compelling evidence that subpopulations have likely declined considerably. In North Africa, the situation is particularly severe, with an estimated 97% reduction of their former range enough to qualify leopards in that region as Critically Endangered.
Sub-Saharan Africa has the healthiest populations of their range, but numbers are also falling. The IUCN estimates that this population has declined by more than 30% over the past 22 years, and this trend is likely to continue without intervention.
In Zimbabwe, while still in decline and under similar threats to the rest of Africa, the leopard population is considered to be healthy and stable, and according to the IUCN ‘red list’ is considered the “healthiest of the entire range.”
The main culprits in leopard population decline are habitat loss, lack of prey availability and human-wildlife conflict. Leopards need large territories and healthy populations of prey animals to survive. But as forests and savannahs are cleared for agriculture and infrastructure, leopards have lost the space they need to hunt and breed. With confinement and natural prey becoming scarce, leopards are forced to roam closer to human settlements and farmlands to catch livestock or game animals.
This often leads to human-wildlife conflict and retaliatory killings by farmers and ranchers. At the same time, the illegal wildlife trade poses a growing risk. Leopard skins, claws, teeth, and bones are trafficked for traditional medicine, decoration, and ceremonial clothing, particularly in parts of Southern and West Africa. Poorly regulated trophy hunting and the widespread use of wire snares further threaten leopard populations. Research on leopard density in Zimbabwe suggests that they are also negatively affected by high lion and hyena populations.
The decline in leopard populations not only risks the species’ extinction, but also the health of the planet. Leopards play a crucial ecological role as apex predators, helping to control herbivore populations and maintain ecosystem balance. While it’s possible to increase leopard populations, it’s a slow and challenging process. Leopards have low reproductive rates ,females usually give birth to just two or three cubs every two years,and their young remain dependent for extended periods, which further limits population growth.
But there is hope! Leopards are known for their adaptability and according to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Leopard Conservation Strategy and Action Plan, leopards are still widely distributed throughout the country in national parks like Gonarezhou, Matusadona, Hwangwe and Mana Pools National Parks.
Also, many private reserves throughout the country like the Sango Private Game Reserve show a high density of leopards, and run successful leopard monitoring programmes. Conservation efforts to restore and protect habitats are crucial to prevent further decline and to ensure that leopards continue to be a part of Africa's rich biodiversity.
Dr Moreangels Mbizah, Executive Director of Wildlife Conservation Action added a woman’s perspective to leopards, “As an African woman and conservationist, I see leopards not just as wildlife, but as part of who we are. Leopards are more than majestic predators, they are part of our African heritage, woven into the stories, landscapes, and spirit of our communities.
On World Leopard Day, we are reminded that their survival depends on our ability to blend traditional wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the power of local people. Protecting leopards means safeguarding the future of both nature and humanity.
The work requires inclusive, collaborative efforts rooted in science and guided by the lived experiences of the communities who coexist with these animals”. Peter Knights, CEO of Wild Africa, says, “Leopards are perhaps the perfect predators - strong, agile and incredibly stealthy.
If we can promote tools for them to coexist with expanding agriculture they are highly adaptable and will survive. If not they will be threatened with extinction like the other large cats.” This International Leopard Day, Wild Africa urges governments, communities, and conservation partners to help save a spot for these iconic species by giving them space and mitigating human-wildlife conflict for peaceful coexistence.
