Leopard Conservation in Mozambique: Status and Action 2026

Quick answer: The leopard (Panthera pardus) is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and faces continuing pressure from habitat loss and fragmentation, prey depletion, persecution, illegal wildlife trade, retaliatory killing and poorly managed trophy hunting. Mozambique still contains important leopard habitat and populations, including in the Niassa Special Reserve, but the available research does not support a reliable 2026 national population estimate. Long-term monitoring by the Niassa Carnivore Project indicates that leopard threats in Niassa have increased and that the population is likely declining.

Last reviewed August 2026. Conservation data changes — see the cited sources for the latest figures.

Why leopard conservation matters in Mozambique

Mozambique contains a varied network of protected landscapes, from the Niassa wilderness in the north to the restored savannahs of Gorongosa and the transboundary Limpopo landscape in the south. Leopards are adaptable predators that can use woodland, savannah and other habitats, but adaptability does not make them immune to the loss of connected habitat, wild prey or safe space away from people.

The country is especially significant because the leopard is part of a wider large-carnivore community. The Niassa Carnivore Project began work in the Niassa Special Reserve in 2003 and recorded 24 carnivore species during its first reserve-wide carnivore survey. Its early work identified Niassa as holding one of the important remaining lion and leopard populations in Africa. This is an ecological issue as well as a tourism issue: a functioning predator community helps signal that a protected area still retains adequate habitat, prey and protection.

Yet Mozambique’s leopard story is not a simple recovery narrative. The Niassa Carnivore Project’s 2020 annual report said that indicators pointed to increasing threats to leopards and that the continuing leopard-skin trade was a concern. The report also stressed the practical difficulty of monitoring a reserve as large as Niassa and the need to refine conservation responses as threats change.

Leopard habitat and range in Mozambique

Leopards historically occupied a broad area across Africa, but their range has contracted substantially. A review of African leopard conservation reported that the species had lost 48–67% of its historical range since 1750, while only 17% of its remaining African range was protected. Mozambique’s protected areas therefore matter beyond national borders, particularly where they connect with neighbouring landscapes.

Protected areas are not isolated from the pressures affecting surrounding communities. Habitat conversion, fragmentation, human settlement and the removal of wild ungulates can reduce the quality of leopard habitat even when a park boundary remains on a map. Leopards may also move through areas outside formal reserves, where law enforcement and tolerance can be less consistent.

The southern part of the country illustrates the importance of connected conservation. Limpopo National Park forms part of the wider Great Limpopo landscape, where wildlife movement and cross-border enforcement have long been conservation priorities. Conservation International reported that Mozambique’s Limpopo National Park adopted EarthRanger surveillance technology in 2022, providing a real-time operational view of ranger, vehicle, fence-line and collared-wildlife locations. The system was introduced principally for protected-area security and monitoring, but the same operational capacity can support broader protection of large carnivores and their habitat.

The main threats to leopards in Mozambique

Illegal killing and the leopard-skin trade

Illegal killing is one of the most direct threats to Mozambique’s leopards. The IUCN Cat Specialist Group identifies illegal wildlife trade, persecution and illegal retaliatory killing among the main human-caused drivers of leopard decline. The Niassa Carnivore Project specifically reported that the leopard-skin trade remained a threat in the Niassa Special Reserve and concluded that leopards were likely declining as threats increased.

Skin trafficking is difficult to measure because seizures do not represent the total scale of illegal activity. The available research supplied for this article does not provide a verified 2026 Mozambique seizure total or national poaching rate, so those figures should not be invented. The absence of a national figure is itself a monitoring limitation, not evidence that the threat is small.

Habitat loss, fragmentation and prey depletion

Leopards need habitat that supports both cover and prey. Habitat loss and fragmentation reduce available space, isolate populations and can increase contact with people. Prey depletion is also a recognised major threat, because the removal of antelope and other wild animals can force leopards to travel farther or approach livestock and settlements.

In Limpopo National Park, conservation reporting described increased bushmeat poaching during the COVID-19 period, including armed groups targeting antelope, buffalo and kudu for meat. That report does not quantify the effect on leopards, and it would be misleading to convert the account into a leopard-specific population estimate. It does, however, demonstrate how pressure on prey can become a large-carnivore conservation problem.

Protecting prey also means recognising the importance of every part of a functioning ecosystem. For travellers researching an African wild dog conservation programme or a safari focused on predators, leopard protection cannot be separated from broader work on habitat, prey and law enforcement.

Human–leopard conflict

Leopards can live close to human settlements, but that flexibility creates risk. Where livestock are vulnerable, a leopard killing can lead to retaliation; where natural prey is scarce, encounters may become more frequent. The IUCN identifies illegal retaliatory killing as a principal threat, while broader conservation guidance emphasises the need to reduce persecution and maintain habitat outside protected areas.

Reliable Mozambique-wide data on leopard attacks, livestock losses and retaliatory killings were not available in the supplied research. Conservation planning should therefore support local reporting and conflict-response systems rather than rely on assumptions. Readers interested in the wider issue can also explore SafariFind’s overview of human–wildlife conflict in Mozambique.

Poorly managed trophy hunting

Mozambique is among the African range states with established CITES leopard export quotas, but the existence of a quota does not prove that hunting is sustainable. The IUCN Cat Specialist Group recommends robust leopard-density estimates, thorough monitoring and conservative quotas where hunting is permitted.

Research summarised in an African leopard factsheet found that a Mozambique study initially suggested legal offtake might be sustainable, but that the conclusion changed when the ages of legally hunted leopards and the sex of illegally killed animals were considered. The study described the trophy-hunting offtake as biologically unsustainable. This is a critical management lesson: quota systems must account for age, sex, breeding status, geographic distribution and illegal removals, not simply the number of permits issued.

The IUCN also recommends distributing hunting pressure according to ecological boundaries rather than administrative boundaries and reducing quotas when robust density estimates are unavailable. In practical terms, a precautionary system should be able to stop or adjust hunting when monitoring shows that a population is under pressure.

What is being done for leopard conservation?

Niassa Carnivore Project and long-term monitoring

The Niassa Carnivore Project has worked with Mozambique’s conservation authorities, including the National Administration of Conservation Areas, to monitor large carnivores and threats in the Niassa Special Reserve. Its approach is important because leopard conservation requires repeated monitoring rather than one-off surveys. The project’s stated objectives include tracking population status and threats, creating early warnings of change and supporting adaptive, outcomes-based management.

Niassa’s work also shows why conservation evidence must be interpreted carefully. The reserve’s size and logistical challenges make regular assessment difficult, while trends in leopard status may be inferred from several indicators rather than a single complete census. Until Mozambique has more nationally representative surveys, responsible reporting should describe leopard status by site and trend rather than publish an unsupported countrywide total.

Gorongosa National Park restoration

Gorongosa National Park has used wildlife translocation as part of its wider ecosystem restoration programme. Park reporting states that three adult leopards—two males and one female—were brought from South Africa by air in 2021 to strengthen the park’s predator population. The same reporting credits Karingani Game Reserve, the Mozambique Wildlife Alliance and the National Administration of Conservation Areas with supporting leopard capture, transport and release operations.

A translocation is not, by itself, proof that a leopard population has been restored. Success depends on survival, reproduction, prey availability, habitat security, genetic considerations and long-term monitoring. The scientific review of Gorongosa’s conservation efforts also noted limitations in the historical and post-war data available for evaluating leopard recovery. Gorongosa’s experience is therefore best understood as a restoration effort that needs continued evidence, not as a finished success story.

This work sits within a wider national interest in rewilding and wildlife translocations in Mozambique. For leopards, careful planning is particularly important because they are solitary, territorial predators and because moving animals can transfer risks between landscapes.

Protected-area security and technology

Rangers, intelligence, evidence management and operational technology all contribute to the protection of leopard habitat, even when programmes are not leopard-specific. In Limpopo National Park, EarthRanger was deployed in 2022 with support from the Global Environment Facility and the Allen Institute of Artificial Intelligence, according to Conservation International. African Parks also describes ranger, canine, communications, wildlife-monitoring and information-management support as part of its wider conservation-security model, including support for Bazaruto Archipelago National Park in Mozambique.

Security interventions must be paired with lawful, accountable enforcement and community relationships. Gorongosa reported that ranger training included biodiversity and environmental law, environmental-crime prevention, intelligence techniques and human-rights considerations. These safeguards matter because effective conservation is not only about increasing arrests or patrols; it is also about building legitimate institutions and reducing the incentives for illegal activity.

Community and tourism’s role

Safari tourism can help finance protected-area management, ranger operations, monitoring, local employment and community programmes, but the benefits depend on how tourism revenue is collected and distributed. The COVID-19 period demonstrated the vulnerability of conservation models that rely heavily on visitor income: a conservation report cited 70–90% declines in conservation revenue across many government-run protected areas in eastern and southern Africa during the pandemic.

Travellers considering a wildlife safari park should ask whether an operator explains its conservation partners, local employment, community benefits and responsible wildlife-viewing policies. A wildlife safari can create value for living leopards when tourism supports a protected landscape over the long term, but visitors should not assume that every park, lodge or activity contributes equally.

On SafariFind, travellers can book conservation-supporting safaris in Mozambique while comparing destinations and operators. The most responsible choice is one that treats leopard sightings as a privilege, avoids baiting or crowding animals and supports the wider landscape rather than promising guaranteed encounters.

Tourism also needs to recognise that leopards are not the only conservation priority. Protecting their habitat can benefit other predators, prey and threatened species, including pangolins. SafariFind’s guide to pangolin conservation in Mozambique explains why anti-trafficking and habitat protection often require joined-up action across species.

Results and setbacks: what the evidence shows

Area or issue	Evidence available	What remains unresolved
Niassa Special Reserve	The Niassa Carnivore Project identified an important leopard population and has maintained long-term large-carnivore monitoring.	Its 2020 assessment said leopards were likely declining as threats increased, including the leopard-skin trade.
Gorongosa National Park	Three adult leopards were translocated from South Africa in 2021, supported by conservation partners.	Available data are not sufficient to present a verified national recovery figure or completed restoration outcome.
Limpopo National Park	EarthRanger surveillance was deployed in 2022 to improve real-time protected-area operations.	The supplied research does not provide a leopard-specific population result from the technology.
Hunting management	Mozambique has a CITES leopard export quota framework.	Scientific guidance calls for robust density estimates, conservative quotas and thorough monitoring.

The central conclusion is cautious but actionable: Mozambique has important leopard landscapes and credible conservation initiatives, yet the country lacks the publicly available national leopard data needed to measure population size and trend with confidence. The strongest priorities are site-level surveys, protection of wild prey, action against illegal skin trade, conflict prevention and transparent evaluation of any legal offtake.

How travellers can help leopards responsibly

• Choose conservation-linked operators. Ask how visitor fees support the park, rangers, monitoring and neighbouring communities rather than accepting vague claims.
• Follow viewing rules. Stay on permitted routes, keep a respectful distance, avoid loud behaviour and never request baiting, chasing or blocking a leopard’s movement.
• Do not buy wildlife products. Leopard skins, claws, teeth and other wild-animal products can fuel illegal trade; the IUCN identifies illegal wildlife trade as a major threat.
• Support habitat, not only sightings. A lodge or organisation working on prey protection, anti-snaring, community livelihoods or landscape connectivity may be contributing to leopard conservation even when leopards are rarely seen.
• Share accurate information. Do not repeat unverified national population numbers or claim that one translocation has solved leopard conservation in Mozambique. The available evidence supports a more measured assessment.

Leopard conservation in Mozambique will depend on maintaining large, connected landscapes while making those landscapes safer for wildlife and people. Long-term monitoring by organisations such as the Niassa Carnivore Project, restoration partnerships in Gorongosa, improved protected-area operations in Limpopo and responsible tourism can all contribute. None removes the need for stronger data and adaptive management, but together they provide practical foundations for keeping Mozambique’s leopards in the wild.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the conservation status of leopards in Mozambique in 2026?

Mozambique’s leopards are part of a species classified as Vulnerable globally by the IUCN. The supplied research does not provide a reliable 2026 national population estimate, while Niassa monitoring indicates that local leopard threats have increased and the population is likely declining.

How many leopards are left in Mozambique?

There is no verified national leopard population number in the supplied research. Conservation evidence is stronger at individual sites, including the Niassa Special Reserve, than at country level.

Where can leopards be found in Mozambique?

The supplied research identifies the Niassa Special Reserve, Gorongosa National Park and Limpopo National Park as important conservation landscapes for leopards or large carnivores. It does not provide a complete national range map.

What are the biggest threats to leopards in Mozambique?

The main threats are habitat loss and fragmentation, prey depletion, persecution, illegal retaliatory killing, illegal wildlife trade and poorly managed trophy hunting. Niassa reporting specifically identifies the leopard-skin trade as an increasing concern.

Is leopard trophy hunting allowed in Mozambique?

Mozambique is listed among African leopard range states with established CITES export quotas, but the supplied sources do not establish the current quota for 2026 or whether every hunt is biologically sustainable. The IUCN recommends robust density estimates, conservative quotas and thorough monitoring.

What happened to leopards in Gorongosa National Park?

Gorongosa reporting states that three adult leopards—two males and one female—were brought from South Africa by air in 2021 to strengthen the park’s predator population. Available research does not justify describing this as a completed national recovery.

How does safari tourism help leopard conservation in Mozambique?

Safari tourism can generate revenue for protected-area management, rangers, monitoring, local employment and community programmes. Its conservation value depends on transparent revenue use and responsible operators; conservation funding also proved vulnerable when the COVID-19 pandemic caused major tourism-revenue declines.

Can visitors see leopards on a Mozambique wildlife safari?

Visitors may encounter leopards in suitable protected landscapes, but sightings are never guaranteed and should not be prioritised over animal welfare. Responsible safaris avoid baiting, chasing, crowding and blocking a leopard’s movement.

How can I help leopards in Mozambique?

Choose operators that explain their conservation and community partnerships, follow wildlife-viewing rules, avoid buying wildlife products and support habitat and prey protection. Do not share unverified leopard population figures.

Why is leopard monitoring important in Mozambique?

Monitoring helps managers detect population changes, identify threats and adjust protection or hunting decisions. The IUCN recommends robust density estimates and thorough monitoring, while the Niassa Carnivore Project uses long-term indicators to inform adaptive management.