Nowadays the number of animals in danger is increasing a lot.One of these animals is the leopard.People should be more responsile about the damages they cause to the world of the animals.

1. ProjectProject
Animals inAnimals in
extinctionextinction
(Leopard)(Leopard)

2. Basic leopard facts:Basic leopard facts:
 Leopards are the smallest of the big cats — averaging 28Leopards are the smallest of the big cats — averaging 28
inches (71 centimeters) at shoulder height — but they're alsoinches (71 centimeters) at shoulder height — but they're also
the most successful. They're stealthy hunters and resourcefulthe most successful. They're stealthy hunters and resourceful
scavengers, and they can adapt to almost any environment.scavengers, and they can adapt to almost any environment.
 The color and length of a leopard's fur can vary dependingThe color and length of a leopard's fur can vary depending
on where it lives. Leopards in the savanna, for example, willon where it lives. Leopards in the savanna, for example, will
have yellow or orange fur, while the fur of desert leopards ishave yellow or orange fur, while the fur of desert leopards is
lighter. Leopards from cold climates have longer, grayer fur,lighter. Leopards from cold climates have longer, grayer fur,
and rainforest leopards have golden coats.Leopards' spots,and rainforest leopards have golden coats.Leopards' spots,
called rosettes, can be either round or square to help themcalled rosettes, can be either round or square to help them
blend in even better with their surroundings.Leopards eatblend in even better with their surroundings.Leopards eat
anything from carcasses, fish and reptiles to mammals suchanything from carcasses, fish and reptiles to mammals such
as baboons, antelopes, hares and rodents. Of all the big catas baboons, antelopes, hares and rodents. Of all the big cat
species, leopards are the best climbers.They're also strongspecies, leopards are the best climbers.They're also strong
swimmers, and they'll sometimes catch fish andswimmers, and they'll sometimes catch fish and
crabs.Leopards are solitary, elusive and skillful predators.crabs.Leopards are solitary, elusive and skillful predators.

4. Where leopards live:Where leopards live:
 Most leopards are found in the grasslands ofMost leopards are found in the grasslands of
sub-Saharan Africa, but they also cover othersub-Saharan Africa, but they also cover other
areas of Africa, the Middle East and Asia.areas of Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
 Dense brush in rocky areas and forests areDense brush in rocky areas and forests are
their favorite hangouts, but they can adapt totheir favorite hangouts, but they can adapt to
almost any environment, from tropicalalmost any environment, from tropical
rainforests to deserts, mountains and therainforests to deserts, mountains and the
outskirts of cities. Leopards are the only bigoutskirts of cities. Leopards are the only big
cats that can live in both deserts andcats that can live in both deserts and
rainforests.rainforests.

6. Conservation status:Conservation status: Near Threatened Near Threatened
 As a species, leopards aren't endangered, but someAs a species, leopards aren't endangered, but some
subspecies are in trouble, especially those that livesubspecies are in trouble, especially those that live
outside of Africa. For example, only about 30 Amuroutside of Africa. For example, only about 30 Amur
leopards, which are native to southwestern Russia,leopards, which are native to southwestern Russia,
remain in the wild.remain in the wild.
 The more threatened subspecies of leopard include:The more threatened subspecies of leopard include:
 P. pardus kotiyaP. pardus kotiya (Sri Lanka leopard) – Endangered(Sri Lanka leopard) – Endangered
 P. pardus melasP. pardus melas (Javan leopard) – Critically(Javan leopard) – Critically
EndangeredEndangered
 P. pardus nimrP. pardus nimr (Arabian leopard) – Critically(Arabian leopard) – Critically
EndangeredEndangered
 P. pardus orientalisP. pardus orientalis (Amur leopard) – Critically(Amur leopard) – Critically
EndangeredEndangered
 P. pardussaxicolorP. pardussaxicolor(Persian leopard) – Endangered(Persian leopard) – Endangered

7. …………………………………………………………………………..
 Experts think there are about half aExperts think there are about half a
million leopards living around themillion leopards living around the
globe — 10 times more than lions,globe — 10 times more than lions,
tigers and cheetahs combined.tigers and cheetahs combined.
They're declining in large parts ofThey're declining in large parts of
their range, though, due to habitattheir range, though, due to habitat
loss and poaching for their coats andloss and poaching for their coats and
whiskers.whiskers.

9. Threats Threats  Throughout Africa, the major threats to Leopard areThroughout Africa, the major threats to Leopard are
habitat conversion and intense persecution, especiallyhabitat conversion and intense persecution, especially
in retribution for real and perceived livestock loss. Inin retribution for real and perceived livestock loss. In
intact rainforest, the chief threat to Leopards isintact rainforest, the chief threat to Leopards is
probably competition with human hunters for prey;probably competition with human hunters for prey;
the tremendous volume of wild meat harveststhe tremendous volume of wild meat harvests
denudes forests of prey and may drive localizeddenudes forests of prey and may drive localized
extinctions. Nonetheless, Leopard are somewhatextinctions. Nonetheless, Leopard are somewhat
tolerant of habitat conversion, and may persist closetolerant of habitat conversion, and may persist close
to large human populations provided they haveto large human populations provided they have
suitable cover and prey.The impact of trophy huntingsuitable cover and prey.The impact of trophy hunting
on populations is unclear, but may have impacts aton populations is unclear, but may have impacts at
the demographic and population level, especiallythe demographic and population level, especially
when females are shot.when females are shot.

10. ……………………………………………………………………....
 In Tanzania, which allows only males to be hunted,In Tanzania, which allows only males to be hunted,
females comprised 28.6% of 77 trophies shot betweenfemales comprised 28.6% of 77 trophies shot between
1995 and 1998.Skins and canines are still widely1995 and 1998.Skins and canines are still widely
traded domestically in some central and West Africantraded domestically in some central and West African
countries where parts are used in traditional ritualscountries where parts are used in traditional rituals
and sold openly in villages and cities. Djibouti is anand sold openly in villages and cities. Djibouti is an
important conduit for Leopard skins from East Africaimportant conduit for Leopard skins from East Africa
that are bought mainly by French military personnelthat are bought mainly by French military personnel
and carried illegally to Europe. In West Asia, smalland carried illegally to Europe. In West Asia, small
leopard subpopulations are threatened primarily byleopard subpopulations are threatened primarily by
habitat fragmentation, killing in defence of livestock,habitat fragmentation, killing in defence of livestock,
and poaching for trade.In Indo-Malaya, leopards areand poaching for trade.In Indo-Malaya, leopards are
threatened primarily by habitat loss (deforestation) asthreatened primarily by habitat loss (deforestation) as
well as poaching for illegal trade. In India, leopardswell as poaching for illegal trade. In India, leopards
are feared for their attacks on people.are feared for their attacks on people.

12. Conservation Actions Conservation Actions
 Included on CITES Appendix I. Legal international traffic isIncluded on CITES Appendix I. Legal international traffic is
limited largely to exports of skins and hunting trophies under alimited largely to exports of skins and hunting trophies under a
CITES Appendix I quota system by 13 African countriesCITES Appendix I quota system by 13 African countries
(2005 CITES quota is 2,590). Leopards are protected under(2005 CITES quota is 2,590). Leopards are protected under
national legislation throughout most of their range (Nowellnational legislation throughout most of their range (Nowell
and Jackson 1996). In Africa, although Leopards occur inand Jackson 1996). In Africa, although Leopards occur in
numerous protected areas across their range, the majority ofnumerous protected areas across their range, the majority of
the population occurs outside of protected areas, necessitatingthe population occurs outside of protected areas, necessitating
a need for improved conflict mitigation measures. In Westa need for improved conflict mitigation measures. In West
Asia, leopards are essentially restricted to protected areas,Asia, leopards are essentially restricted to protected areas,
many of which are too small to support viable populations, andmany of which are too small to support viable populations, and
need expansion through buffer zones and connectivity throughneed expansion through buffer zones and connectivity through
corridors (Breitenmosercorridors (Breitenmoser et al.et al. 2006, 2007). In Indo-Malaya2006, 2007). In Indo-Malaya
and China, leopards need better protection from illegal trade inand China, leopards need better protection from illegal trade in
skins and bones (Nowell 2007). Leopards are protected inskins and bones (Nowell 2007). Leopards are protected in
Afghanistan having recently been placed on the countrysAfghanistan having recently been placed on the countrys
Protected Species List (2009), prohibiting all hunting andProtected Species List (2009), prohibiting all hunting and
trading of the species within Afghanistan.trading of the species within Afghanistan.