Zanzibar leopard never been studied in the wild, and the last time researchers have claimed in the press that they had seen him, occurred in the early 1980s. Most zoologists believe Zanzibar leopard extinct or nearly extinct. However, the Zanzibar government statistics show that the leopard is still kills the hunters in the mid-1990's, and the islanders still continue to report its observations and predation zhivotnovodstve.Sereznoe attention to the situation in Zanzibar leopard was not given until mid-1990 s, when some researchers have already included it in the list of extinct animals. The program for the conservation Leopard was prepared funded organization CARE "Jozani-Chwaka Bay Conservation Project", but was canceled in 1997, when researchers wildlife could not find evidence of the continued existence of the leopard in forest Jozani.
Local wildlife officials, however, were more optimistic about the chances of survival of leopards, and some have suggested Zanzibaris who was visiting the island of supposed "guardians" leopard show them his place of residence for the money. Villagers sometimes even offer to tourists and researchers to see "domesticated" leopards in exchange for cash, but so far none of these "saved leopards" as far as we know, had not been seen by scientists.
These conflicting reports on the status of the Zanzibar leopard, and save it to still not been agreed, presenting a dilemma among researchers.
