Especially when you considered in sub-Saharan Africa, the leopard population has declined by more than 30 percent in the past 25 years, and the species has lost 48% to 67% of its historic range in Africa.

Between 2005 and 2014, at least 10.191 individual leopards were traded internationally as hunting trophies, with the United States as the top importer (accounting for 45 percent of this trade). The US Fish and Wildlife Service officially determined leopards as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act in 2016 and leopard hunting has been banned in SA for 2017.

The pics were taken near Tshokwane Picnic site in SA's flagship national park on Wednesday, 9 August. The recently upgraded Tshokwane is located towards the central, eastern part of the park, close to the Mozambique border and is often described as a must-stop site with cheeky monkeys a usual sighting. 

From: Traveller 24

By: Selene Brophy