Leopard numbers plummeting across Africa, mainly due to trophy hunting - report

702's John Perlman interviews report author Goncalves, founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting.

A disturbing new report documents how the hunting of leopards continues unabated despite their numbers plummeting across the African continent.

It reflects how leopard numbers have fallen by up to 90% over the past 50 years, with trophy hunting partly responsible for this collapse.

The study titled The Leopard Hunters was commissioned by the Wildlife & Conservation Foundation.

John Perlman talks to report author Eduardo Goncalves, founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting.

Goncalves highlights that leopards are classed as an Appendix I species by the global wildlife trade body, CITES.

"This states that trade in these species can be authorised only in 'exceptional circumstances' - yet what we found is that it was happening on a routine basis."

Eduardo Goncalves, Founder - Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting

"Leopard numbers are going down faster and faster; and this is not just me, it's the world conservation body 'International Union for Conservation of Nature'. This finding confirmed by a number of studies of an up to 90% decrease over the last 50 years is an absolutely cataclysmic collapse in their numbers."

Eduardo Goncalves, Founder - Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting

Goncalves points to the ease of being able to buy a leopard to shoot on various websites, and the number of awards out there for shooting these magnificent creatures.

"There are some trophy hunters that have shot enormous numbers of leopards, for example Spanish hunter Tony Sanchez-Arino has shot 167."

Eduardo Goncalves, Founder - Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting

Hunters also like to shoot the biggest leopards, which is having an impact on the animals' gene pool, he says.

Goncalves also looks at measures needed to protect leopards - take a listen in the interview audio at the top of the article