Leopards are the most widespread large cat species but face growing pressure from habitat loss and human conflict as they increasingly encounter livestock and people at range boundaries.
Leopards living in conflict zones face constant lethal threat from snaring, poisoning, and shooting. Captured leopards in snares suffer painful injuries and prolonged stress before death or rescue. Retaliatory poisoning kills not only targeted leopards but also scavenging vultures and other wildlife. Leopards increasingly inhabiting human-dominated landscapes face chronic stress from proximity to people and reduced access to natural prey. Conservation programs that address the economic and cultural drivers of human-leopard conflict provide the most durable welfare improvements.