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8. Distribution and
Density
Leopards occur throughout Namibia except for the true desert in
the west, where the prey-base is low. They are also absent from
areas of dense human habitation, e.g. the capital city of Windhoek,
but can be found on the outskirts. Population density figures are
only available for small areas in Namibia. These figures differ
according to prey availability which can vary greatly between different
rain fall areas. For this reason, population figures cannot be
extrapolated from the available data.
8.1 Status
Leopards are listed on CITES Appendix 1 and are protected in most
of their natural range. In Namibia, they may be killed as problem
animals if they threaten livestock, as long as this action is reported
to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Limited trophy hunting
of leopard occurs in Namibia and is controlled by use of a permit
system.
8.2 Habits
Leopards are nocturnal animals. They are extremely shy and secretive;
this could be because they are actively persecuted on most farms.
Leopards tend to hunt animals that are the most abundant within
their territory.
Although leopards are found in state protected areas such as the Etosha
National Park in the north, Kaudom National Park in the north east
and the Namib Naukluft Park in the south west, a higher density
of leopard are found on communal and free-hold farms as these state
protected areas only cover an approx. 13.8% of Namibia.
There are no reliable population figures for leopard in Namibia,
but livestock farmers regularly complain about livestock losses
to leopard and regularly catch, poison and shoot them to prevent
further losses.
Judging by conflict reports by farmers and leopard tracks seen
on roads and game paths, the leopard population in most areas in
Namibia appears to be stable. Because of their unknown status in
Namibia and their vulnerability to habitat loss, conservation of
this species is imperative.
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