As of this week, West African leopards, a geographically isolated population of African leopards (Panthera pardus pardus) found in 11 countries across West Africa, are officially Endangered. A new IUCN regional assessment led by Panthera estimates only 354 mature West African leopards remain — a 50% reduction across the region over the last two decades, or about three leopard generations. But hope isn’t lost. By officially elevating their threat status, the IUCN Red List reclassification can help rally the political will, motivation and funding necessary for meaningful conservation. If we act now, this can be a turning point and a chance to bring these wild cats back from the brink.
On October 9, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reclassified the West African leopard from Vulnerable to Endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is a science-based tool used to assess the conservation status of a species, subspecies, or subpopulation. Scientists conduct periodic studies of animals, fungi and plants to classify their conservation status as a barometer of risk. After a listing is made, governments and NGOs use it to inform their conservation initiatives and environmental policies. (Learn more about the Red List in our blog: Your Guide to the IUCN Red List: How Species Are Ranked & Why It Matters). Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable animals are considered at risk of extinction.
This reassessment was led by Panthera scientist Dr. Marine Drouilly, Regional Carnivore Monitoring Coordinator for West and Central Africa, and utilized Panthera data from our Leopard Monitoring Program and other research projects. Co-authors include: Janvier Aglissi, Panthera and Laboratoire d'Écologie Appliquée de l'Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Bénin; Delagnon Assou, Laboratory of Ecology and Ecotoxicology, University of Lomé, Togo; Robin Horion and Mouhamadou Ndiaye, Panthera; and Aurlus Ouindeyama, previously African Parks.
West African leopards are a geographically isolated population of African leopards (Panthera pardus pardus) found in 11 countries in western Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone. West African leopards are isolated from leopards in Central Africa, with little to no crossover in the populations.
Leopards once were abundant in West Africa, but their populations have dwindled and become fragmented. We estimate only 354 mature West African leopards remain. That’s a 50% reduction across the region over the last two decades, or about three leopard generations.
Some of the main threats facing West African leopards are:
The bad news: The decline of West African leopards is tightly linked to humans, and the population will continue to decline unless important regional and national conservation efforts are taken.
The good news: The decline of West African leopards is tightly linked to humans, and humans can fix it.
This update is far more than a re-labeling — it signals a critical wake-up call for governments, conservationists, and communities across West Africa. An Endangered status recognizes the steep decline and grave risks this leopard population faces, underscoring the urgent need for stronger protections and focused, on-the-ground conservation actions.
Historically, the West African leopard has received very little scientific attention compared to its counterparts elsewhere on the continent. This lack of data and visibility has hampered efforts to secure their future. By officially elevating their threat status, the IUCN Red List reclassification can help rally the political will, motivation and funding necessary for meaningful conservation.
This is a critical moment for West African leopards. Extinction hangs in the balance. But, if we act now, this can also be a turning point — it’s a chance to bring these wild cats back from the brink.
At Panthera, we’re proud to support this pivotal moment by working hand in hand with local wildlife authorities in West Africa, including the Direction des Parcs Nationaux in Senegal, the Office Ivoirien des Parcs et Réserves in Côte d’Ivoire, APN in Bénin, and the Ghana Wildlife Division. We are also launching a new partnership with the ANI Foundation, a Nigerian NGO dedicated to the sustainable management of protected areas rich in biodiversity.
One key focus is Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Nigeria’s largest protected area and one of the last strongholds for West African leopards and the elusive African golden cat. Our collaboration centers on capacity-building — training local teams in advanced camera-trapping techniques for wildlife surveys and honing skills in species identification, including tracking leopards by their unique markings and recognizing subtle signs in the wild.
This partnership embodies the future of conservation: local knowledge empowered by cutting-edge science, working together to safeguard species and ecosystems.
This IUCN status change is a call to action, one that we hope will spark coordinated conservation efforts across all West African Range States. Leopards are not just apex predators; they are vital indicators of ecosystem health. Protecting them means preserving the forests and savannas that countless other species — and people — rely on.
With renewed attention, stronger partnerships, community-driven conservation, and political will of the countries where leopards are found, there is hope that West Africa’s leopards will not only survive but thrive once more.
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© Sebastian Kennerknecht
