"Save Big Cats From Our Spears": Panthera and Ngoni Royal Establishment of Zambia Partner to Protect Leopard Lives

For Immediate Release 

Media Contact: Susie W. Sheppard, sweller@panthera.org  

View photos and videos here.   

Over 7,500 wild cats likely saved to date through distribution of 22,000 synthetic ‘Heritage Furs’ replacing authentic leopard skins worn during cultural events 

New York, NY – In time for the 2025 World Wildlife Day, Panthera, the global wild cat conservation organization, has announced a new partnership with the Ngoni Royal Establishment of eastern Zambia to expand the Furs for Life program (FFL) – a 12-year initiative to reduce poaching of wild leopards in southern Africa by promoting the use of synthetic “Heritage Furs” for use in ceremonial regalia.  

With 22,000 synthetic fur alternatives already supplied by Panthera to southern African communities, the new collaboration with the 800,000-strong Ngoni brings the reach of Furs for Life to over 7 million individuals. Scientists now estimate over 7,500 wild cats have likely been saved from 2013-2025 through the program. 

The synthetic, longer-lasting, and cost-effective Heritage Furs have been endorsed by INyandeZulu Inkosi Yamakhosi King Mphezeni IV, King of the Ngoni people of the Eastern Province of Zambia and adorned by the King himself and the Amakhosi at last week’s annual Ncwala ceremony in Chipata, the theme of which centered around the leopard. Watched by millions online and attended by tens of thousands, the Ncwala unites Ngoni People from Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique to celebrate their ancestry and the onset of the harvest season. Traditionally, male Ngoni royalty, leadership, warriors and dancers adorn themselves in skins of revered wildlife, with lion skin capes worn by the King, leopard skin capes for leadership, and serval, genet and other wild animal skins adorned by others.  

Addressing the President of Zambia at the Ncwala, the Ngoni King stated, “We as Ngoni are forward looking....and I do not want our great grandchildren to live in a land depleted of...animals. We have therefore partnered with Panthera, an organization conserving wild cats...and are encouraging our people to adopt use of synthetic animal skins to ease hunting pressure on leopards and other cats. I would like to call upon our partners to join us in this endeavour as we rely on the Ncwala Ceremony to raise awareness.” 

The Ncwala Ceremony Chairman Dumisani Tembo added, “Leopards, lions, servals, and other wild cats are central to our ancient traditions, but the danger of continuing to hunt them for their skins cannot be ignored. Our partnership with Panthera through Furs for Life will save big cats from our spears, allowing us to celebrate and protect these animals while sustainably continuing our celebrations for generations to come.” 

Panthera has now supplied the Ngoni Kingdom with some of the Heritage Fur capes and other garments worn by the Ngoni leadership. A number of these have since been given to the amakhosi or traditional leaders by the King. Additional Heritage Fur material will be delivered and tailored locally this year by Ngoni tailors, soon replacing the use of authentic wild cat skins at Ngoni gatherings.  

Panthera Furs for Life Project Coordinator Tristan Dickerson stated, “The Ngoni People’s embrace of Heritage Furs is a tremendous step in further protecting Africa’s leopards, while rightly honoring their deep-rooted traditions. In replacing authentic skins with high-quality alternatives, we are all safeguarding both the future of wild cats and the cultural identity of millions.” 

He added, “The continued success and growth of the Furs for Life program, now to the Ngoni and new partners on the horizon, is proof that conservation and culture can both thrive for the benefit of all." 

Undergoing a rapid expansion, the Furs for Life program is now being sought after by new partner communities and churches in Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania, and with the help of a pan-African carnivore cultural use assessment, conservationists can now prioritize engaging additional user communities posing the greatest threats to wild cats. Moving forward, the program will continue to operate behavior change campaigns with new user groups and improve the program’s scalability by partnering with established tailors. 

Furs for Life began in 2013 when Panthera scientists discovered that while fewer than 5,000 leopards existed in South Africa, at least 800 were being killed annually for their fur to supply the demand of just one user group. Panthera documented that as many as 15,000 illegal leopard furs were being worn during religious gatherings in southern Africa, with those donning furs believed to take on the leopard’s attributes.  

In response, Panthera initiated its first partnership with the Nazareth Baptist Church eBuhleni (Shembe Church) using digitized scans of authentic leopard skins to design its first Heritage Furs. Panthera and Ecopel additionally partnered in 2022 on the Shembe initiative to create the first-ever bio-based fur textile (developed with vegan fashion designer Stella McCartney). The program also maintains partnerships with the Barotse Royal Establishment of the Lozi People of western Zambia, which has helped leopard populations begin to rebound in parts of the Greater Kafue Ecosystem, Zambia; the African Congregational Church (ACC) of South Africa; and now the Ngoni Royal Establishment of eastern Zambia. 

The Shembe partnership has led to a 50 percent reduction in authentic leopard fur use at their religious ceremonies which, in turn, has potentially prevented thousands of leopard deaths. Over 90 percent of the Lozi participants now don synthetic Heritage Fur skirts and hats during major ceremonies. Panthera’s partnership with the Shembe, Lozi and ACC has also provided an alternative income source for women, who have used sewing machines and training to transition from tailoring illegal wildlife products to running independent micro-enterprises producing Heritage Fur garments, traditional clothing, tourist items and school uniforms. 

FFL has been funded by the UK Government through Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, Cartier for Nature, and the Royal Commission for AlUla.