Leopards Have Lost 75 Percent of Historic Range, Study Shows

However, a new study has found that now, leopards (Panthera pardus) occupy almost 25 to 37 percent of their historic territory in these regions.

Others include the National Geographic Society’s Big Cats Initiative, the wild cat conservation organization Panthera and the Zoological Society of London.

The team notes a near disappearance of leopards in several parts of Asia as well as continued struggles of the animal in Africa, especially in the north and west of the continent.

Of the nine, three represent 97pc of the entire species’ population (African, Indian and Persian), while another three have lost up to 98pc of their historic range (Amur, Arabian and North-Chinese).

The study estimates that their habitats have diminished from 35 million square kilometers (13.5 million square miles) to roughly 8.5 million square kilometers (3.3 million square miles).

Complicating conservation efforts for the leopard, Jacobson noted: “Our work underscores the pressing need to focus more research on the less studied subspecies, three of which have been the subject of fewer than five published papers during the last 15 years”. Factors responsible for the bringing the decline, are human activities, destruction of habitat, hunting of small animals, revenge killings by farmers who have lost their livestock, illegal trade in leopard skins and parts and trophy hunting in countries, where it is allowed.

However it’s not all doom and gloom as, just like the current tiger initiatives have provided optimism, leopard conservation is perfectly poised to let the cats bounce back. This study comes as the International Union for Conservation of Nature is anticipated to upgrade the leopards from near-threatened to vulnerable status, with some subspecies possibly being listed as endangered.

The amount of habitat in each of these regions is plummeting, having declined by almost 98%, researchers said.

And it’s not good news – the leopard is in a spot of bother.

Luke Dollar, co-author of the study and researcher with the National Geographic Society’s Big Cats Initiative, said that the big felines’ “secretive nature” and shocking appearances of the animals in densely populated areas in India and Africa have made people believe that leopards continue to thrive in the wild.

Leopards are among the most adaptable animals in the world, capable of surviving in human-dominated landscapes if they have sufficient cover, are able to hunt wild preys and are respected by humans.

Despite the concerning rate of range loss, there was a silver lining in the scientists’ research: in the Russian Far East and the Caucasus Mountains, the populations of leopards have stabilized as a result of the government increasing the size of protected areas and ramping up anti-poaching efforts, National Geographic also reports.

Dr Henschel says the study should give cause to conservationists to “double down” in their support of programmes to save the animal. “Our next steps in this very moment will determine the leopard’s fate”, co-author Philipp Henschel concludes. “However, with many populations ranging across global boundaries, political cooperation is critical”, he added in a press release.