Research overview: the leopard skin and parts trade

Leopards are traded for their skins, bones, claws, and teeth across both Asia and Africa, driven by demand for fashion, status, traditional medicine, and ceremonial use. This overview surveys research on the leopard trade, including the use of skins in cultural and religious ceremonies in southern Africa and the trafficking of leopard parts in Asian markets where they sometimes substitute for tiger products. Studies analyze seizures, market surveys, and the difficulty of distinguishing legal from illegal sources. Researchers also examine innovative demand-reduction efforts, such as providing synthetic alternatives to real skins for ceremonial use. The overview frames the leopard trade as a significant but sometimes overlooked threat, often overshadowed by the focus on tigers, even though leopards are heavily exploited across their vast range. It matters because the leopard's wide distribution and adaptability can mask localized declines driven by intense trade-related poaching.