Only 354 West African leopards remain, but one park offers hope
West African leopards are critically endangered, with only 354 individuals remaining in the wild. Pendjari National Park in Benin serves as a vital, though threatened, sanctuary for these big cats amidst regional conflict and habitat loss.
Why it matters
The survival of this distinct leopard population is a key indicator of the health of West African ecosystems and the success of conservation efforts in conflict zones.
In the far north of Benin, inside Pendjari National Park, a quiet story of resilience is unfolding. It’s not just about wildlife or data points—it’s about big cats holding on in a landscape shaped by conflict, poverty, and courage.Pendjari sits within the vast W‑Arly‑Pendjari (WAP) Complex, a mosaic of protected areas stretching across Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. At roughly 27,000 square kilometres—about the size of Haiti—it’s one of West Africa’s largest conservation landscapes and a last refuge for some of the region’s most threatened animals: West African lions, forest elephants, Northwest African cheetahs, and a small, distinct population of West African leopards.For years, these leopards have been slipping out of sight.A vanishing cat in a fragile regionWest African leopards are separated from other African leopard populations by geography and politics.
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