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The Global Wild Cat
Conservation Organization
Continue to Panthera.org
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Furs for Life
The leopard is known for its gorgeous spots—but its beautiful fur has also made it one of the world’s most persecuted big cats.
In southern Africa, as many as 800 leopards are killed each year for their furs. With fewer than 5,000 leopards remaining in South Africa, this illegal killing poses a significant threat to their survival.

Many leopards are killed so their furs can be used by local religious groups like the Nazareth Baptist (Shembe) Church for ceremonial garb. After discovering that Shembe followers were using as many as 15,000 illegal leopard furs, Panthera initiated the Furs for Life Leopard Program in 2013.    

Working with digital designers, Panthera created high-quality and affordable synthetic leopard fur capes, known as amambatha. More than 18,500 capes have already been donated to the Shembe with support from the Peace Parks Foundation and Cartier.

Thanks to the support of Shembe leaders, the synthetic furs are gaining increased acceptance as viable alternatives to real leopard furs. Panthera’s research indicates that use of real furs has already decreased by 50%, preventing hundreds of leopard deaths each year.

Join us in protecting Africa’s leopards. For $30, you can save a leopard's life by funding the production of one synthetic fur. 
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National Geographic profiles Panthera’s Furs for Life Program in ‘Can Fake Furs Help Protect Leopards?’
Saving Spots with Synthetic Furs
Panthera expanded its groundbreaking Furs For Life program in August 2019 with the launch of Saving Spots, a new culturally sensitive conservation partnership with the Lozi people of western Zambia. Through the project, Panthera has created synthetic fur garments known as “Heritage Furs” to replace real leopard, serval and lion furs used during Lozi festivals. Designed and endorsed by His Majesty the Lozi King and the Lozi Senior Chief, Panthera expects that the Heritage Furs will help to reduce the hunting of wild cats across southern Africa where the species are severely threatened.

Learn More 
Fur Forensics
Interviews with illegal wildlife traders have revealed that many furs used by the Shembe were not acquired from South Africa. In order to determine the origin of these furs—and therefore identify hot spots for leopard poaching—Panthera and its partners have developed a genetic database for leopards in southern Africa. With over 1,000 genetic samples from nine countries, this is the most comprehensive study of leopard genetics anywhere in the world. 
 
By providing authorities with data about where these furs are coming from, we hope to raise awareness about the scale and impact of the illegal fur trade and, most importantly, compel decision-makers to prioritize law enforcement efforts to stop the poaching of Africa’s leopards.
See the Brochure
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Listen Now: Furs for Life
Furs for Life Leopard Program Consultant Tristan Dickerson talks about using synthetic fur to protect real leopards in an interview with BBC World Service Radio.

Listen Now
Synthetic Fur Films
External
Video
2016-12-09 16:10:01
To Skin A Cat
Source: Scholars & Gentleman
External
Video
2016-12-08 22:31:49
Furs for Life
Source: Scholars & Gentleman
External
Video
2015-11-11 11:51:33
Can Fake Furs Help Protect Leopards?
Source: National Geographic
Latest Leopard News
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Video
2020-09-02 21:00:00
Leopard Conservation (Collaboration with andBeyond)
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2020-06-04 12:18:49
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2020-01-02 00:00:00
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2019-12-18 00:00:00
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2019-09-26 21:00:00
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2019-08-27 21:00:00
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2019-08-26 21:00:00
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2019-08-22 21:00:00
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2019-08-05 21:00:00
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2019-07-31 21:00:00
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2019-07-31 21:00:00
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Popular Article
2019-07-31 21:00:00
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Source: Al-Bawaba
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Page
2019-07-31 12:29:01
Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for AlUla Announces Birth of Two Arabian Leopard Cubs in Significant Boost to Critically Endangered Subspecies
External
Popular Article
2019-07-28 21:00:00
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Source: YouTube
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2019-06-23 00:00:00
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2019-06-15 00:00:00
EMBASSY OF SAUDI ARABIA: Royal Commission for Al-Ula Enters Into A $20 Million Partnership with Panthera to Prevent the Extinction of Arabian Leopards
Source: Gulf News Journal
External
Popular Article
2019-06-14 00:00:00
AlUla and Panthera Join Together to Save the Most Scarce Leopard Alive, The Arabian Leopard
Source: Independent Arabia
External
Popular Article
2019-06-09 00:00:00
Arabian leopard population given $20 million lifeline in new deal
Source: The National
External
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2019-06-09 00:00:00
$20 million deal signed to save Arabian leopard population
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2019-06-09 00:00:00
$20 Million Deal Signed to Save Arabian Leopard Population
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2019-06-09 00:00:00
Its a $20 Million Deal: Saudi Aims to Save Arabian Leopards
Source: Albawaba
External
Popular Article
2019-06-08 00:00:00
AlUla and Panthera Sign Partnership Agreement to Support Arabian Leopard Initiatives
Source: Al Eqtisadiah
External
External
2019-06-08 00:00:00
Saudi Arabia is Setting Up a Global Fund to Protect and Reproduce the Remaining Arabian Leopards
Source: Asharq al-Awsat
External
Popular Article
2019-06-08 00:00:00
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Source: AHM Saudi
External
Popular Article
2019-06-08 00:00:00
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Source: BBC Newshour
External
Popular Article
2019-06-08 00:00:00
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Source: Al Arabiya
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Popular Article
2019-06-08 00:00:00
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External
Popular Article
2019-06-08 00:00:00
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Popular Article
2019-06-08 00:00:00
RCU teams up with Panthera Partner for leopard conservation
Source: Eye of Riyadh
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Press Release
2019-06-07 10:07:25
تهدف إلى دعم الجهود العالمية للحفاظ على النمور الهيئة الملكية لمحافظة العلا و"بانثيرا" توقعان اتفاقية شراكة لدعم مبادرات النمر العربي
External
Popular Article
2019-06-07 00:00:00
بدر بن فرحان يوقع اتفاقية مع «بانثيرا» لحماية النمر العربي
Source: Al Riyadh
External
Popular Article
2019-06-07 00:00:00
A A الهيئة الملكية لمحافظة العلا و«بانثيرا» تدعمان مبادرات النمر العربي
Source: Aawsat
External
External
2019-06-07 00:00:00
Badr bin Farhan Signs an Agreement with Panthera to Protect the Arabian Leopard
Source: Okaz
External
External
2019-06-07 00:00:00
A Partnership Between AlUla and Panthera to Preserve the Arabian Leopard
Source: Al Watan
External
Popular Article
2019-06-07 00:00:00
Royal Commission for AlUla and Panthera Sign Agreement to Support Arab Leopard Initiatives
Source: Almowaten
External
Popular Article
2019-06-07 00:00:00
The Minister of Culture Signs an Agreement to Protect the Arabian Leopard from Extinction
Source: Al Madina
Blog
Press Release
2019-06-06 17:08:27
Royal Commission for AlUla and Panthera Partner on New Arabian Leopard Initiatives (ALI) to Champion Global Leopard Conservation
External
Panthera in the News
2019-04-22 12:47:17
Play A Part In Protecting Species While You Travel For Earth Day
Source: Forbes
External
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2019-04-13 21:00:00
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Source: Africa Geographic
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Source: Peace Parks Foundation
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Source: The Guardian
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2019-02-12 21:00:00
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2019-01-29 21:00:00
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Source: Seeker
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2018-11-30 13:26:19
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2018-11-27 13:24:58
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Source: Singita
External
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2018-11-05 17:17:30
Leopard, hyena share a rare meal—before other cats cut in
Source: National Geographic
External
Popular Article
2018-10-30 11:04:21
Video: Why did this leopard kill one of its own?
Source: Earth Touch News
Blog
Press Release
2018-10-06 21:59:27
A Statement from Dr. Thomas S. Kaplan, Chairman of Panthera
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Source: Earth Touch News Network
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Source: Londolozi Blog
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Popular Article
2018-08-15 15:32:40
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Source: Houston Chronicle
External
Popular Article
2018-07-08 12:08:55
Threat Poachers are Posing to Leopards
Source: Tehran Times
External
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2018-06-27 15:22:02
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Source: National Geographic
External
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2018-06-19 09:56:52
Leopard Plays With Prey’s Own Bones
Source: National Geographic
External
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2018-05-09 16:34:31
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Source: Scientific American
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2018-04-25 12:43:00
Amur Leopard Population Triples — to 103
Source: The Revelator
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Source: National Geographic
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Source: The Conversation
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Popular Article
2018-03-27 11:49:32
Indochinese Leopard Population Declines
Source: The Wildlife Society
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2018-03-25 16:33:59
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Source: O Eco
External
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2018-03-23 15:01:03
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Source: National Geographic
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Source: Cityscape
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2018-03-12 13:18:51
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Dr. Guy Balme
Deputy Executive Director, Conservation Science; Director, Leopard Program
In South Africa, Panthera's Furs for Life Leopard Program is providing an innovative and real solution to a threat that is decimating leopard populations. Very rarely in the world of conservation do you see a resolution this simple and respectful of cultural and religious traditions that is so swiftly accepted by local communities.
Project Pardus
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