Leopards are the most widespread large cat but face serious threats in many parts of their range. Human-wildlife conflict and trophy hunting create significant welfare impacts.
Wild leopard welfare is shaped primarily by the consequences of sharing landscapes with humans. Retaliatory killing in response to livestock predation is typically unregulated and uses methods — including poison, leg-hold traps, and snares — that cause prolonged suffering. Trophy hunting of leopards, where it occurs, involves welfare harm that has generated significant ethical debate, particularly given declining populations and poor monitoring of offtake sustainability. Urban and peri-urban leopard populations in cities like Mumbai demonstrate remarkable adaptability but face chronic stress from human harassment and road mortality. Conservation approaches that prioritise coexistence — including livestock protection programs and conflict reduction strategies — simultaneously serve conservation and welfare goals better than lethal management approaches.