Source: Zimbabwe intensifies leopard conservation drive – herald
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
Zimbabwe has joined the international community in commemorating International Leopard Day, with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) reaffirming its commitment to the conservation of the country’s leopard population.
International Leopard Day is celebrated on May 3 each year and it exists to bring attention on a species that rarely steps into the spotlight, even though it lives across much of the world.
In a statement, ZimParks said the day is dedicated to recognising and celebrating the ecological importance of the Panthera pardus, while also drawing attention to the growing threats facing the species across its range.
“Today marks International Leopard Day, an occasion to recognise and celebrate the leopard, one of the most adaptable yet increasingly threatened big cats in our ecosystems,” read the statement.
ZimParks said the commemorations bring together governments, conservation organisations, research institutions and communities across Africa and Asia in a bid to strengthen coordinated efforts to conserve the species.
The authority said Zimbabwe has an estimated leopard population of between 1 000 and 1 500 individuals, adding that this places the country in a key position to ensure the long-term survival of the species through effective management and protection measures.
“This important national population underscores Zimbabwe’s responsibility, alongside other range states, to secure the species across both protected areas and wider landscapes,” reads the statement.
ZimParks said it remains committed to the sustainable conservation of leopards as part of broader biodiversity conservation priorities, while promoting responsible coexistence between wildlife and communities sharing the same landscapes.
“As ZimParks, we are dedicated to the sustainable conservation of leopards as part of our broader priorities for biodiversity and protected areas, while encouraging responsible coexistence in shared landscapes,” reads the statement.
The authority also expressed concern over continued threats such as habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict and illegal hunting, which it said require strengthened collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the survival of the species for future generations.
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