Overview

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 will bring together organisations and individuals researching, observing, appreciating and conserving 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 is 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.

Join 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

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Submission Portal Opens – Thursday, 01 September 2022
  • Submission Deadline – Tuesday, 01 November 2022 (23H59 | GMT+2)
  • Review Outcome & Invitations Distributed – Tuesday, 15 November 2022
  • Conference Registration Opens – Tuesday, 15 November 2022
  • Conference Programme Distributed – Monday, 13 February 2023

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 will provide 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.

Topics will be relevant to researchers working across the carnivore community.

This inclusive international conference is aimed at students, academics, scientists, conservation organisations, media representatives, artists and leopard aficionados.