Center for Biological Diversity : Stop Leopard Trophy Imports

 

          

U.S. trophy hunters bring home more than half of all leopard trophies worldwide — an average of nearly 300 leopards shot in cold blood every year. If we don't act now, Africa's leopards could be gone from the wild in our lifetime.

Scientists fear leopard populations in Africa are plummeting.

The animals are losing their habitat and prey, dying in conflicts with humans, and being poached for their coveted fur and gunned down by trophy hunters.

That's why the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must stop letting trophy hunters bring leopard trophies into the country unless, and until, the Service knows how dire the leopard's decline is.

Without more information on these animals' plight, the agency simply can't permit leopards killed for fun by U.S. hunters to cross our borders.

African leopards need to be listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act — both to restrict the import of trophies and to bring them much-needed funding and protection.

SIGN THE PETITION

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must stop permitting trophy hunters to bring leopard trophies into the country unless, and until, the Service knows how dire the leopard's decline is.

Then the African leopard must be listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. U.S. law restricts the import of trophies from endangered species. The dangers posed to leopards by trophy hunters, illegal trade and rampant habitat destruction can't be ignored. They must be protected by the full power of the Act.

Shooting threatened wild animals like leopards, elephants and lions for sport is barbaric, can jeopardize local populations, and threatens biodiversity conservation worldwide.

We're in the midst of a mass extinction, with 1 million species at risk. If we don't act now, Africa's leopards could be gone from the wild in our lifetime.

I urge you to do the right thing: Stop the import of African leopards killed by U.S. trophy hunters.

Photo of leopard by Brett Hartl.

Center for Biological Diversity
P.O. Box 710
Tucson, AZ 85702
United States

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