The Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is a subspecies widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the five big cats found in India. In 2008, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) classified leopards as Near Threatened, stating that they may soon qualify for the Vulnerable status due to loss of habitat and fragmentation, heavy poaching for the illegal trade of skins and body parts in Asia, and persecution due to conflict situations. They are becoming increasingly rare outside protected areas. The cheetah was the first big cat to become extinct in India, the tiger still is very much endangered, but in the way it is going now leopard will be the next big cat to declared extinct in the wild in India:
http://tigertribe.net/leopard-a-spotted-predator/indian-leopard/
Four a week are being Killed by poachers and a study estimates, At least 2,300 leopards were killed and their body parts trafficked between 2001 and 2010. Despite this, India's Leopard does not have Protected Status:
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/28/14139910-four-leopards-a-week-being-killed-in-india-for-skins-experts-estimate?lite
Together we need to convince the government of India that it is the time for them to start acting now. Let them show us they are capable of saving the remaining leopards in their country. There needs to be an effective strategy against poaching and also protection of habitat, and against attacks by villagers.
Please sign and share this petition before the Leopard is allowed to become the next big cat to be hunted to extinction in India
