Wildlife

Big Cat Losses

Leopards have disappeared in 75 percent of their historic habitats across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, according to a new study.

The elusive spotted cats have almost vanished entirely in China, Southeast Asia and the Arabian Peninsula due to expanding agriculture, declining prey and poaching for the illegal trade in their skins and teeth.

The study’s authors are calling for the International Union for Conservation of Nature to elevate the leopard’s status from “near threatened” to “vulnerable” on its highly regarded Red List.