Hunting Leopard Part I

Leopards (Panthera pardus) are elusive big cats admired for their beauty yet feared for their cunning hunting abilities. As the smallest of the “Big 5” African game animals, they lack the formidable size of lions or elephants. However, leopards are dangerous predators not to be underestimated. When wounded, they are likely to turn and charge rather than flee. With their lithe, muscular frames allowing stealthy movement and ambush hunting, leopards are consummate predators.

Unlike man-eating leopards in India, African leopards are not notorious for targeting humans. However, human-leopard conflict does occur in both regions when the cats kill domestic livestock. Compared to their Indian counterparts, African leopards tend to be larger and sturdier, with a spotted coat of paler coloration and smaller rosettes.

Distribution

Historically, leopards had a wide distribution across most of Africa south of the Sahara, as well as parts of northeast Africa. Their range even extended into parts of Asia Minor, Central Asia, India, and China. However, today their range has been reduced by 75%, with huntable remnant populations now found only in Southern, Central, and East Africa.

Threats

Leopards face three major threats to their survival: habitat destruction, poaching, and an increasing human footprint leading to more human-wildlife conflict. Despite conservation agreements by the IUCN, Leopard populations continue to decline. This challenges the hunting community to disprove claims of decreasing numbers. However, the lack of census data makes it difficult for some countries, like South Africa, to counter the narrative of dwindling Leopard populations.

Collecting accurate Leopard census data is extremely challenging. Yet, numerous photo-trapping projects using trail cameras are underway across Africa. These projects capture images of both sides of each animal to identify individuals by their unique rosette patterns and whisker spots. This photographic data functions like a fingerprint database to identify and track populations. Scientifically robust, it can help secure future hunting quotas by proving stable or increasing numbers.

Habitat fragmentation from farming and resettlement destroys wildlife connectivity, bringing humans and Leopards into increased conflict. Agricultural practices like cattle ranching and communal lands disrupt natural movement patterns. This further threatens the Leopard’s survival.

Large wildlife conservancies, formed by pooling the land of multiple owners, can help secure the future of leopards on private land in countries like Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa. However, farmers with interests in cattle, sheep, and wildlife breeding often kill leopards to protect their livestock and business. These “problem” leopards, constantly threatened with persecution, become difficult to hunt as their behavior changes. Some countries allow the hunting of problem animals, using a portion or all of the trophy fee to compensate farmers for losses or purchase hunting rights for that species. Unfortunately, in South Africa problem leopards cannot be sold as trophy hunts, with dire consequences for the cats. Landowners often indiscriminately use gin traps and poison, killing numerous non-target species in the process.

Poachers employ similar non-selective methods to trap and kill leopards. Professional hunters face the unenviable task of destroying leopards maimed by snares. The illegal trade in leopard skins is huge in southern Africa, as the skins are used for traditional and religious dress by Zulu royals and members of the Shembe church. Efforts are being made to address this by providing church members with artificial leopard skins.

The extent of poaching depends on the money, time and effort outfitters dedicate to securing private and concession land throughout Africa. Some have the support of hunting organizations, trusts and dollars to protect these areas. While facing public criticism, responsible outfitters strive to conserve leopards and all species on their land. However, the problem remains severe. One poacher arrested in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province possessed 124 leopard skins, most poached from neighboring Mozambique according to DNA testing.

Leopard Behavior

Both male and female leopards hold down territories, with a male’s territory overlapping those of numerous females. Leopards are mostly nocturnal but, like many animals, are also active at dawn, dusk, and on overcast days. These adaptable big cats can be found in diverse habitats ranging from rainforests to semi-arid deserts. In the bushveld, they prefer riverine areas, but are probably most at home in rugged, mountainous terrain. Remarkably, leopards can even survive on the outskirts of cities, where they are known to prey on dogs and cats.

As efficient, opportunistic hunters, leopards feed on prey ranging in size from rats and mice to medium-sized antelope. Renowned for their great strength, they often hoist their kills into trees to avoid having them stolen by lions and hyenas as they feed.

Though able to survive solely on the liquid from their prey, leopards will readily drink water when it is available.

Hunting Locations

Leopards may be legally hunted in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Tanzania. They can also be hunted in Central African Republic, Uganda, and Ethiopia, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prohibits importing these leopards into the United States.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies leopards as vulnerable. As CITES Appendix I animals, leopard hunting quotas are strictly allocated based on population numbers in each country. Although South Africa has temporarily suspended leopard hunting, they occasionally issue a limited quota. Hunters should always verify their own country’s current trophy import regulations, as these differ globally and printed information may be outdated.

Leopard hunting regulations vary by country. Some countries permit hunting leopards at night over bait, while others only allow daylight hunting under supervision of a wildlife official. Daylight hunting hours are defined as starting half an hour after sunset and ending half an hour before sunrise.

Only the largest male cats, known as toms, should be harvested. Many countries fine and confiscate the taken animal if it is a female. The following table lays out the rules of each country.

Regulations

Conditions to Consider for Hunt

Leopards are less active and become lazier during summer months when nighttime temperatures are high. They tend to start their nightly patrols later, once temperatures have cooled down. Many areas also get summer rains, which can wash out hunters sitting in blinds or erase fresh tracks. Additionally, many concessions close during summer. Mosquitoes, flies, and other biting insects constantly pester hunters in summer in many places. Despite the heat rapidly deteriorating baits, this rarely deters Leopards. Hunting conditions may be more difficult in summer since animal populations are less concentrated around watering holes compared to drier winter months. However, most antelope give birth in spring and summer, providing easy prey for Leopards. A Leopard with a full belly is less likely to take bait.

Hunting leopards during the new moon provides advantages and disadvantages for hunters. The darkness of the new moon phase makes it harder for leopards to hunt, so they may be more attracted to bait. However, the lack of light from the new moon also reduces visibility for hunters using night vision or optics. The full moon’s brightness aids in identifying and aging leopards at the bait. Therefore, late winter is often ideal for classic baited leopard hunts—unless drought conditions increase weak prey availability, which can reduce bait effectiveness. Outfitters typically offer 14 day leopard hunts to maximize clients’ odds for success. An area’s habitat and prey determine leopard densities and hunting quality. Many factors beyond outfitters’ control influence leopard hunt outcomes. Ultimately, patience and some luck play key roles in these hunts.

Impossible to have a “Canned” Leopard Hunt

Leopard breeding has not flourished in South Africa as it has for lions, mainly because leopards cannot be contained by fencing. Game ranches try to use fences to protect their antelope herds from leopards, but these attempts usually fail to stop the resilient, agile, and keen predators. No affordable fencing can restrict a leopard’s movement through its territory.

The expensive leopard-proof fencing required to obtain a hunting license often includes various electric fences with offset brackets, digging barriers, and overhangs. However, since hunting permits are not guaranteed despite the high fencing costs, all leopard hunts are classified as free-roaming even on fenced game ranches.

Read Part II here