Endangered West African leopards show signs of recovery, despite odds. ‘It’s a win’
Bias ratings based on AllSides + Ad Fontes Media. Agreement % = sources covering this story. Always read multiple sources and think critically.
If you liked this story, share it with other people.
Facebook Linkedin Threads Whatsapp Reddit Email Page link Cite article Researchers working in Benin’s Pendjari National Park reported some promising news for West African leopards: Density rose from 2017 to 2023.West Africa’ leopards are regionally endangered, with just 354 remaining across the region.Pendjari National Park sits within the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex, a large transboundary conservation landscape encompassing national parks, hunting reserves and buffer zones that in recent years has been infiltrated by non-state armed groups operating in the Sahel. While conservation efforts in the national park are working, the security crisis remains a major threat.See All Key Ideas It’s been difficult to monitor West African leopards in Benin’s Pendjari National Park: It’s a large wilderness area, situated within a hotspot of armed conflict. The park is among the last strongholds for this geographically distinct leopard population — but a recent study shared hopeful news.
Leopard density in the park increased over a six-year period, according to a study published in the journal Global Ecology and Conservation. The park has been managed by the nonprofit African Parks since 2017 in partnership with the government — and this conservation effort seems to be working. “It’s a win,” said study lead author Marine Drouilly, a biologist with Panthera, the global wild cat conservation non-profit.
West African leopards are geographically separated from other African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) populations. In 2025, they were listed as regionally endangered on the IUCN Red List, after suffering a 50% decline over the past two decades. Numbers are estimated at just 354 across West Africa.
In addition to Pendjari, important strongholds include the Niokolo-Koba–Badiar landscape in Senegal and the Guinea, Taï and Comoé National Parks in Côte d’Ivoire and Mole National Park in Ghana. A rapidly growing human population across West Africa means wildlife habitat is disappearing and becoming more fragmented, isolating already small leopard populations, Drouilly said, while widespread bushmeat hunting leaves leopards without enough prey. There’s a growing threat from poachers continent-wide, as leopards are targeted for their spotted skins, canine teeth, bones and other body parts, killed to supply the illegal wildlife trade in Africa and Southeast Asia.
In West Africa, burgeoning use of talismans made with small pieces of leopard skin adds to demand, Drouilly said. Pendjari NP lies within the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex, a sprawling mosaic of five national parks, numerous hunting reserves and buffer zones across Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. It’s a World Heritage Site; At 27,000 square kilometers (10,425 square miles) — an area about the size of Haiti — the complex is one of the largest conservation landscapes in West Africa and a vital refuge for numerous species that are in danger of extinction.
This includes three critically endangered species: West African lions (Panthera leo leo); up to 90% of the region’s remaining forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis); the last known population of Northwest African cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus hecki); and it shelters a key population of West African leopards.
Think About This
What questions does this story raise for you? Talk with your family: Why does this news matter? Who is affected? What might happen next? Is there anything you can do?
- Ask your child: “What do you think scientists discovered about endangered west? What part surprised you most?”
- Explore together: Search for “endangered west” on NASA Kids’ Club, DK Find Out, or National Geographic Kids for more kid-friendly facts.
- Critical thinking: Science findings can change as more research is done. Ask: “How would scientists test this? What would prove them wrong?”
KiddieDaily is built for families — balanced sources, no agenda, no ads. Always read the original source and think for yourself.
Original Sources
🔍 Want to verify this story? Check it on Google Fact Check Explorer →
More stories: Kid News · Archive · Fact Check