Review of leopard export quotas
Namibia is currently performing a full survey to ascertain leopard numbers in the country.
A review of the leopard export quotas in Namibia is thus expected.
Due to their stealthy nature it is notoriously difficult to pinpoint leopard populations.
The planned review has been submitted to the 30th meeting of the Animals Committee and the 24th meeting of the Plants Committee and is awaiting approval.
According to the report, the annual leopard export quota for hunting trophies and skins for personal use in Namibia was set at 100 in 1992 and was reached for the first time in 2003.
It was then increased to 250 and has since then not been changed.
The latest nationwide estimate provided in 2011 indicates that the leopard population is at 14 154 and it was indicated that the key threat to the population was excessive off-take of problem0causing leopards as a result of human-wildlife conflict.
However the indices reported of leopards killed as 'problem animals' has declined over the past decade.
Between 2004 and 2017 a total of 1 458 leopards were killed as problem-causing animals. Statistics show that in 2004 alone 120 leopards were killed and that this declined to less than 80 by 2017.
The mean number of cattle reportedly killed by leopard annually was 726, ranging from 805 in 2008 to 646 in 2010. In addition, leopards were reported to have killed annually, on average, 1 926 head of game increasing the reported number from 1 795 in 2008 to 2 043 in 2010. However, landowners in Namibia have shown to have more tolerance toward leopards than other carnivore species because of the revenue generated from leopard trophy hunting.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to update the information available on the population status, density and distribution of leopards through a follow-up leopard survey that is expected to be completed in 2019. This study aims to increase the knowledge base on leopards and to better understand the illegal off-take in the form of destroying problem-causing animals that are not declared to the environment ministry.
According to the report on average 142 leopards were hunted in Namibia between 2004 and 2017, representing 56% of the annual quota uptake.
“Prior to 2008, there was a strong increase in the number of leopard hunts, with the optimum of the allocated quota of 250 reached in 2008. The high level of success of leopard hunts was because there was no limit on the number of leopards to be hunted per outfitter, both male and female leopards are allowed to be hunted, and stalking, and hunting with dogs were allowed.”
ELLANIE SMIT
A review of the leopard export quotas in Namibia is thus expected.
Due to their stealthy nature it is notoriously difficult to pinpoint leopard populations.
The planned review has been submitted to the 30th meeting of the Animals Committee and the 24th meeting of the Plants Committee and is awaiting approval.
According to the report, the annual leopard export quota for hunting trophies and skins for personal use in Namibia was set at 100 in 1992 and was reached for the first time in 2003.
It was then increased to 250 and has since then not been changed.
The latest nationwide estimate provided in 2011 indicates that the leopard population is at 14 154 and it was indicated that the key threat to the population was excessive off-take of problem0causing leopards as a result of human-wildlife conflict.
However the indices reported of leopards killed as 'problem animals' has declined over the past decade.
Between 2004 and 2017 a total of 1 458 leopards were killed as problem-causing animals. Statistics show that in 2004 alone 120 leopards were killed and that this declined to less than 80 by 2017.
The mean number of cattle reportedly killed by leopard annually was 726, ranging from 805 in 2008 to 646 in 2010. In addition, leopards were reported to have killed annually, on average, 1 926 head of game increasing the reported number from 1 795 in 2008 to 2 043 in 2010. However, landowners in Namibia have shown to have more tolerance toward leopards than other carnivore species because of the revenue generated from leopard trophy hunting.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to update the information available on the population status, density and distribution of leopards through a follow-up leopard survey that is expected to be completed in 2019. This study aims to increase the knowledge base on leopards and to better understand the illegal off-take in the form of destroying problem-causing animals that are not declared to the environment ministry.
According to the report on average 142 leopards were hunted in Namibia between 2004 and 2017, representing 56% of the annual quota uptake.
“Prior to 2008, there was a strong increase in the number of leopard hunts, with the optimum of the allocated quota of 250 reached in 2008. The high level of success of leopard hunts was because there was no limit on the number of leopards to be hunted per outfitter, both male and female leopards are allowed to be hunted, and stalking, and hunting with dogs were allowed.”
ELLANIE SMIT
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