Global
LEOPARD
Conference
2027
10 – 13 May 2027
The conference is 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.
This 3-day online virtual/online conference brought together organizations and individuals who researched, observed, appreciated, and conserved the nine subspecies of leopard across the globe.
The inaugural Global Leopard Conference in 2023 marked a major milestone for the global leopard conservation community, bringing together more than 300 delegates from 59 countries and featuring over 100 presentations from across the leopard’s range. The conference created an unprecedented platform for researchers, conservation practitioners, policymakers and other stakeholders to share knowledge, strengthen connections and identify common challenges and opportunities for leopard conservation.
Building on the momentum and success of 2023, the 2027 Global Leopard Conference will once again bring the international leopard community together to share new research, exchange practical conservation solutions and strengthen collaboration across countries, disciplines and the leopard’s global range.
Leopards are among the most adaptable of the Big Cats. Despite this, the global leopard population is declining largely due to habitat loss. Many of the threats to leopard survival occur mainly across the 63 countries where leopards exist, and those protecting them are seeking solutions to ensure the long-term survival of this ecologically important umbrella species.
Date:
Monday, 10 May 2027
to
Thursday 13 May 2027
Venue:
Virtual / Online
Access the conference on:
OUR VISION:
To unite organization and individuals researching, observing, appreciating and conserving the nine subspecies of leopard across the globe.
IMPORTANT DATES
- Submission Portal Opens – Thursday, 01 October 2026
- Submission Deadline – Friday 18th December 2026 (23H59 | GMT+2)
- Review Outcome & Invitations Distributed –Friday, 5th Feb 2027
- Conference Registration Opens – Tuesday 1 December 2026
- Early Bird Registration Closes– Wednesday 17th March 2027
- Conference Programme Distributed – Wednesday 7th April 2027
Submission Portal Opened
To be confirmed
Conference Registration Opened
To be confirmed
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.
One species. A global range. Shared conservation challenges.”
Leopards now occupy only an estimated 25–37% of their historic range.
(Jacobson et al. 2016)
An Inclusive International Conference
The Global Leopard Conference is a platform for sharing leopard lessons from across the globe, and to promote collaborative solutions to ensure the long-term survival of this species.
The first three days of the 2027 Global Leopard Conference will explore key themes in leopard ecology, conservation and management, including advances in technology and monitoring, human-leopard coexistence, and policy and trade.
Topics will include leopard population status, behaviour, diet and disease; transboundary conservation; human-leopard conflict and mitigation; the use of GPS collars, camera traps and other technologies for monitoring; education and awareness; and national and international policy and management frameworks, including sustainable use and hunting.
This inclusive international conference is aimed at students, academics, scientists, conservation organisations, media representatives, wildlife managers, artists, and leopard aficionados.
Why Leopard
These often elusive cats occupy a myriad of habitats, including deserts, forests, savannah and alpine areas, and even in proximity to highly-populated urban centres. Habitat loss and fragmentation has resulted in a range loss of 63 – 75%.
Their range has been reduced by agricultural expansion and deforestation, poaching and the illegal trade, prey depletion caused by, amongst others, over-hunting, and human-wildlife conflict. It’s vital that we work together to prevent further pressure on the species.
Although leopard (Panthera pardus) is listed as Vulnerable, not all subspecies face the same threats. The Arabian, Amur and Indochinese leopards at Critically Endangered, while the Persian, West Africa and Javan leopards are Endangered. African leopard and Sri Lankan leopards are Vulnerable, while Indian leopards are New Threatened.
However, because the majority of the subspecies is threatened with extinction, all are protected under the Convention on the International Trade of Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix I listing prohibiting the international trade in wild specimens.
The nine subspecies of leopard (Panthera pardus):
1. African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus)
2. Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis)
3. Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca)
4. Javan leopard (Panthera pardus melas)
5. Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr)
6. Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor)
7. Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya)
8. Indochinese leopard (Panthera pardus delacouri)
9. North China leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis)
HOSTED BY:
The Cape Leopard Trust, Panthera, WildCRU, Royal Commission for AIUIa, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, the ZSL WildCats Conservation Alliance, the Arabian Leopard Fund, Leopard Ecology and Conservation and the Persian Leopard Working Group.