A new study points to a grim fate for the world's leopard (Panthera pardus) population, with data revealing that as much as 75 percent of its historic range has been lost. The research was backed by numerous partners, including the National Geographic Society's Big Cats Initiative and international conservation charities such as the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Cat Specialist Group.
The new study - the first to map out the iconic animals' status across their entire range and subspecies - found that while leopards historically made their home in approximately 35 million square miles covering Africa, the Middle East and Asia, they are now only found in around 3.3 million square miles of these regions.
Using data gained from over 1,300 sources on the leopard's historic and current range, the results reveal that although leopards are not yet threatened, the threats that they face are growing and three subspecies are on the brink of extinction.
"The leopard is a famously elusive animal, which is likely why it has taken so long to recognize its global decline," said Andrew Jacobson of the ZSL and the National Geographic Society's Big Cats Initiative and lead author of the study. "This study represents the first of its kind to assess the status of the leopard across the globe and all nine subspecies. Our results challenge the conventional assumption in many areas that leopards remain relatively abundant and not seriously threatened."
While African leopards face numerous threats, they are still not considered threatened. However, the data reveals that leopards have nearly been wiped out in numerous regions across Asia, with their habitats in these areas reduced by almost 98 percent.
"Leopards' secretive nature, coupled with the occasional, brazen appearance of individual animals within megacities like Mumbai and Johannesburg, perpetuates the misconception that these big cats continue to thrive in the wild - when actually our study underlies the fact that they are increasingly threatened," said Luke Dollar, program director of the National Geographic Society's Big Cats Initiative and co-author of the study.
Although the findings are troubling and leopards are on the brink of disappearing in multiple regions, the results aren't all negative - in some areas, leopard populations have stabilized and could rebound with the proper conservation measures and protection.
"Leopards have a broad diet and are remarkably adaptable," said Joseph Lemeris Jr., researcher at the National Geographic Society's Big Cats Initiative and co-author of the paper. "Sometimes the elimination of active persecution by government or local communities is enough to jumpstart leopard recovery. However, with many populations ranging across international boundaries, political cooperation is critical."
The findings were published in the May 4 issue of the journal PeerJ.
