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The leopard ecological assessment programme (LEAP) is an initiative of Keri Research www.keriresearch.com and the Leap-sa project aims to address many of the problems raised during the leopard population habitat viability assessment held in 2005 (Leopard PHVA 1.3 MB).

LEAP is a wildlife research facility that establishes and maintains nodes (collaborating leopard researchers) around South Africa and collates information gathered about the leopard (Panthera pardus).

LEAP acts as a central body bringing about cohesion between research programmes nationally and ensure that data is archived and accessible as a national asset for generations to come.

Growth of human populations and associated impacts such as habitat loss, persecution and hunting are the underlying cause of ongoing declines of leopards. It is imperative to understand the population status and processes that have the potential to cause numbers to deteriorate and focus conservation efforts on those vulnerable populations which are in urgent need.

The aim of the project is to work cohesively to produce a leopard conservation plan which requires accurate data regarding status, densities, distribution, population dynamics and population decreases across a wide variety of habitats.

Panthera pardus pardus is a flagship species for all endangered wildcat species. There is no room for complacency about the security of this species simply because it is not currently considered globally threatened. Pre-emptive conservation is the maintenance and stability of particularly susceptible species before they become threatened. This method is arguably more cost-effective in the long term, as opposed to post decline attempts to rescue species on the brink of extinction.