Global
LEOPARD
Conference
2023
13 – 17 March 2023 (GMT+2)
The conference was hosted by the Cape Leopard Trust, Panthera, WildCRU, Royal Commission for AIUIa, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, the ZSL WildCats Conservation Alliance and the Arabian Leopard Fund.
The 5-day online virtual conference brought together organizations and individuals who researched, observed, appreciated, and conserved the nine subspecies of leopard across the globe.
Leopards may be the most adaptable of the big cats, however the global leopard population and distribution is in decline. Many of the threats to leopard survival occur commonly across the 63 countries where leopards occur, and those protecting them are seeking better conservation solutions.
This conference was an opportunity to bring together leopard specialists, researchers, and conservationists to explore a broad spectrum of topics, including leopard ecology and the human-wildlife interface, the role of leopards in art and culture, conservation and management strategies, and leveraging environmental education.
Thank you for joining us to celebrate leopards and to help save a spot for them in this rapidly changing world.
Date:
Monday, 13 March 2023
to
Friday, 17 March 2023
Venue:
Virtual / Online
Access the conference on:
IMPORTANT DATES
- Submission Portal Opens – Thursday, 01 September 2022
- Submission Deadline – Tuesday, 15 November 2022 (23H59 | GMT+2)
- Review Outcome & Invitations Distributed – Wednesday, 30 November 2022 – Delayed
- Conference Registration Opens – Tuesday, 15 November 2022
- Conference Programme Distributed – Postponed until Friday, 17 February 2023
Submission Portal Opened
Thursday, 01 September 2022
Conference Registration Opened
Tuesday, 15 November 2022
Overview of the conference
Leopards (Panthera pardus) are listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with some subspecies classified as Critically Endangered.
They occupy a myriad of habitats including deserts, forests, savannah, alpine areas, and even in proximity to highly populated urban centres. Habitat loss and fragmentation has resulted in a range loss of 63 – 75%.
Other key threats include prey depletion, conflict with people, unsustainable trophy hunting and poaching for body parts and skins.
It’s vital that we work together to prevent further pressure on the species.
“Leopards have vanished from at least 40% of their historic range in Africa and over 50% of their historic range in Asia.”
CITES
An Inclusive International Conference
This conference provided a platform to share leopard lessons from across the globe and to promote collaborative solutions to ensure the long-term survival of this ecologically important umbrella species.
The topics were relevant to researchers working across the carnivore community.
This inclusive international conference was aimed at students, academics, scientists, conservation organizations, media representatives, artists, and leopard aficionados.