The South African government recently banned leopard hunting throughout
the country, a big step in its plan to clamp down on all trophy hunting.
The national trophy hunting quota allocation for leopards has been 150
animals per year since 2004 in South Africa. However, historically, the
recording of leopard hunting has been poor, with inconsistent recording of ages
and sexes of hunted animals.
Kelly Marnewick, the Environmental Wildlife Trust’s carnivore
conservation manager, has supported the ban. He explains that it’s important to
ensure that any wildlife trade is sustainable and that it is supported by the
most rigorous scientific assessment for the species. The current ban will allow
this, she says, and as such “the future of our leopards looks brighter.”