Published May 3, 2024

Today, as humanity marks International Leopard Day, let’s take a closer look at this remarkably resilient and adaptable animal and see how some of Cartier for Nature’s partners are working to protect it. Rare and elusive as they may be, leopards are surprisingly widespread. They are found across Africa and Asia, in deserts, mountains and jungles, but also in and around major cities. They coexist not only with people, but also with other big cats such as lions and tigers.

Like other predators, leopards play an important ecological role: they keep their prey in check. By eating a certain number of smaller animals, leopards ensure that the populations of these prey species don’t grow too large for the ecosystem to sustain. The leopard’s presence also forces prey to remain vigilant and, for instance, not graze in the same spot for too long. As a result, a wider range of plants have the time and space to thrive, providing food and shelter for other creatures, who in turn allow yet more species to share the landscape.

Despite their ability to adapt to different habitats and circumstances, most leopard populations are in decline, and the species is listed as globally Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. Several subspecies are on the brink of extinction. There are, for instance, as few as 100 Arabian leopards and possibly even fewer Amur leopards surviving today. In total, there are as many as nine recognised leopard sub-species in the world. However, the snow leopard, which roams the mountains of Central Asia, is not one of them, but rather a separate species altogether.

Across landscapes and continents, most leopards face two main threats. The first is the loss and fragmentation of their habitats due to the expansion of agriculture or human settlements, for example - while the second is persecution by humans, be it for their fur or because they increasingly come into in conflict with local communities they share space with. Addressing these threats from different angles, three Cartier for Nature partners in Southern Africa protect wild leopard populations so they can continue to fulfil their ecological role and inspire us all.

In many parts of the leopard’s range in Southern Africa, local herding communities and their livestock live side by side with these big cats and other potentially dangerous animals such as lions and elephants. As pastures are increasingly degraded and water resources scarce, contact – and sometimes conflict – between humans and wildlife is inevitable. To ease these conflicts and promote coexistence, the Peace Parks Foundation promotes sustainable herding practices that help regenerate range lands, keep herds safe from predators and improve livestock health. Participating communities become more resilient, earn more stable livelihoods and are empowered to tolerate the presence of wildlife.

In one of the prime leopard habitats of Zambia, the lush and wildlife-rich Luangwa Valley, local conservation organization COMACO focuses on working with smallholder farmers. Many of these farmers are caught in a vicious cycle of poverty that forces them to clear forests and sometimes poach wildlife for food to make ends meet. The COMACO team trains these local communities in sustainable farming methods, purchases their produce at a premium and markets it in urban areas under the label It's Wild! Foods by COMACO. Their work helps local farmers become stewards of nature, with measurable benefits for people, climate and wildlife.

The wild cat conservation group PANTHERA works across Southern Africa to protect its namesake species. Their “Furs for Life” initiative engages with local communities in South Africa and Zambia who have traditionally used leopard skins in their cultural and religious festivals, for instance as ceremonial garments. Today, with leopards under increasing pressure from diverse other threats, this practice puts remaining populations at risk. Under the “Furs for Life” initiative, these communities are replacing real wild leopard skins with synthetic alternatives in their ceremonies.

The transformational potential of this approach could be observed a few weeks ago during the Kumbuoka, a traditional festival of the Lozi people. This sees the Litunga, the king of the Lozi people, move in a ceremonial barge from his compound in the Barotse Floodplain of the Zambezi River to higher ground. More than 90% of the king’s paddlers were wearing synthetic “Heritage Furs” produced under this initiative.

The leopard – or panthère, in French - has been Cartier's emblem and a major source of inspiration for the Maison for more than a century. We are therefore particularly proud to contribute to this iconic animal’s long-term protection through our partners’ work so that it may continue to inspire future generations.