Traded As Trophies: FOUR PAWS’ Critical Work To Save Leopards From...

Traded As Trophies: FOUR PAWS’ Critical Work To Save Leopards From Vanishing In The Wild

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Celebrated on May 3rd, International Leopard Day serves as a critical reminder of the challenges faced by these majestic creatures. This year, the global animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS is drawing attention to the exploitation of leopards within the illicit big cat trade worldwide.

Leopards, like their fellow big cat species, confront significant threats around in the world. Whether alive or deceased, these majestic animals are often commodified, falling victim to illegal trade. They are kept as exotic pets or hunted for their bones, skulls, and skins, which are then used in traditional medicine, transformed into luxury items, or displayed as trophies.

South Africa’s intensive captive breeding industry has made the country a leading supplier in the illicit trade, catering to the escalating international demand for big cats. The country faces ongoing debates about animal welfare and ethical considerations from conservation groups around the world.

In an effort to address this cruelty, FOUR PAWS founded the LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa in 2006. This sanctuary provides rescued big cats with a second chance to thrive in an environment suited to their natural needs. Among its initial residents were Mike and Tulani, two leopards rescued from exploitation, who continue to live at the sanctuary as a cherished “senior couple.”

“Leopards across Africa, the Middle East and Asia have lost nearly 75% of their natural habitats because of habitat destruction and poaching. While wild big cat populations are at the brink of extinction, others are bred in questionable breeding facilities for the sole purpose of being traded across the world – alive or as body parts. It’s tragic to see how these majestic creatures have turned into mere commodities,” said Vanessa Amoroso, Head of Wild Animals in Trade at FOUR PAWS.

As demand for tigers rises, a troubling trend has emerged: poachers and traffickers are increasingly targeting leopards. These majestic creatures are being hunted for their bones, teeth, and other body parts, which are often falsely labeled as “tiger” products and sold in wildlife markets throughout Asia. Despite leopards being listed under the highest protection in CITES, approximately 12,000 leopards and their parts were traded globally between 2020 and 2023.

South Africa continues to play a central role in supplying this illicit demand, enabling the trade through insufficient legislation and allowing the captive breeding industry to shockingly flourish. FOUR PAWS’ Break the Vicious Cycle campaign exposes this ongoing commercial exploitation.

“The protection of big cats is not uniform across the world and varies from country to country. It even varies between big cat species. Wildlife traffickers and dealers are aware of this and are always on the search for easy solutions to make money: if obtaining a tiger is too complicated, they will quickly move on to more accessible and less protected substitutes. We need global support to end this. FOUR PAWS urges governments across the world to align with international standards on wild animal protection, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to end unscrupulous wildlife trafficking and exploitation for profit,” said Amoroso.

The sanctuary LIONSROCK, operated by FOUR PAWS, offers a serene sanctuary for big cats rescued from private ownership, circuses, and other abusive environments. Tulani, born in captivity in 2002 on a safari farm, was purchased as a cub. In contrast, Mike was a wild leopard snatched from his natural habitat and held in private captivity. Despite their inherently solitary nature, the pair formed a remarkable bond after their rescue in 2006.

Nearly two decades later, Mike and Tulani can still be observed lounging side by side under the African sun, a powerful testament to the restorative impact of sanctuaries.