The leopard. Charismatic, elusive, mysterious, regal… Master of stealth and disguise, supremely powerful, and utterly beautiful… Apex predator; keystone species for ecosystem health; umbrella species for biodiversity protection; flagship species for conservation and education… Yet, despite their popularity and importance, leopard populations are under threat across their global range. In the Cape it’s no different, with leopard density here among the lowest in the country. Leopards here are exceedingly wary of people and are rarely seen – so rarely that they’re referred to as the 'ghost cats of the mountains'. The Cape Leopard Trust remains committed to our mission of protecting leopards and leopard landscapes and supporting coexistence between humans and wildlife, through collaborative research, conservation, education and strategic communications. Join us in celebrating these remarkable big cats, and help us to save a spot for leopards in this rapidly changing world… Visit our website to learn more! Happy #InternationalLeopardDay! 🐆 #LeopardsoftheCape #GhostCatsOfTheCape #LeopardSupporter #LoveLeopards #ForTheLoveOfLeopards
Cape Leopard Trust
Non-profit Organizations
Working to ensure continued survival of leopards, their prey & their habitat through research, conservation & education
About us
The leopard is the last big predator to still roam free in the Western Cape, South Africa. The species faces multiple threats, including limited and fragmented habitat, reduction in prey numbers and high levels of conflict with people. The Cape Leopard Trust (CLT, established 2004) is a non-governmental, non-profit, public benefit organisation that aims to facilitate and promote the conservation of biological diversity, with a focus on the leopard as a flagship species. The CLT consists of a small, highly dedicated and enthusiastic team, spread across a number of project areas, and for the past 15 years they have been working to ensure the long-term survival of leopard populations for the benefit of nature and society. The CLT uses a combination of rigorous scientific research, applied conservation, and environmental education and outreach to better understand leopards, inform management policies, mitigate human-leopard conflict, promote biodiversity conservation and habitat connectivity, uplift and upskill community members living in leopard areas, and inspire the next generation to become conservation ambassadors.
- Website
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http://www.capeleopard.org.za
External link for Cape Leopard Trust
- Industry
- Non-profit Organizations
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- Cape Town
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 2004
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
Cape Town, ZA
Employees at Cape Leopard Trust
Updates
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Cape Leopard Trust reposted this
Tᴏᴍᴏʀʀᴏᴡ ɪs Iɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ Lᴇᴏᴘᴀʀᴅ Dᴀʏ!🐆 🐾 Want to learn more about these amazing spotted big cats? Go to https://lnkd.in/gim-_Z7n for some interesting snippets and quick facts! 🐾 Go big and celebrate by planning some special leopard-inspired events – see ideas on the ILD website. 🐾 Tag @globalleopardconference in your posts and spread some leopard love on your socials with the hashtags #InternationalLeopardDay #LoveLeopards and #ForTheLoveOfLeopards – and let the world know why leopards are creatures worth conserving! 📸 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘬𝘦 𝘒𝘳𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯 𝘒𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘜𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩
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#InternationalLeopardDay is around the corner and the Cape Leopard Trust would like to invite all our supporters to join us in celebrating the spotted big cats of the Cape on Saturday 3 May! Some ideas to inspire you: 🐆🐾🐆 Channel your inner leopard and wear your best leopard-print outfit or any of our CLT merch – socks, caps, buffs or tee’s – and use the opportunity to spread awareness of leopards and the work of the CLT 🏃🚴♀️🥾 Dedicate your run, bike ride, hike or other outdoor activity to leopards and wear some spotty attire! 👩🎨🎨🎭 Make some leopard-inspired arts and crafts 👨🍳🧁🍪 Bake some leopard-themed cookies or cakes 📸 Take photos of your leopard day celebrations and post them to socials, tagging @capeleopardtrust in your pics and using the hashtags #GhostCatsOfTheCape and #LeopardSupporter 🐾 We look forward to celebrating with you! #FelidFriday #FridayFeelgood
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Cape Leopard Trust reposted this
#InternationalLeopardDay Webinar Join us in celebrating the beauty, resilience, and ecological importance of leopards across the globe. Together, we can build a future where humans and wildlife thrive in harmony. Theme: Leopards in a Changing World: Securing Coexistence and Ecological Balance Distinguished Speakers: 1️⃣Dr Luke Hunter, African Leopard Expert 2️⃣Dr Gobind Sagar Bhardwaj, Indian Leopard Expert 3️⃣Dr Antony Lynam, Conservation Technology Specialist 4️⃣Dr Igor Khorozyan, Persian Leopard Expert 5️⃣Dr Hariyo T. Wibisono, Javan Leopard Expert IBCA Officials: 6️⃣Dr SP YADAV, Director General 7️⃣Mr Soumitra Dasgupta, Director, Program 8️⃣Dr Amit Mallick, Director, International Cooperation 9️⃣Dr Kausik Banerjee, Lead, Program, IBCA 🔟Dr Tamali Mondal (PhD), Program Associate 1️⃣1️⃣Mr ADITYA BISHT, Program Associate 🗓️ May 3, 2026 ⏰12 PM IST (GMT +5:30) #InternationalLeopardDay #IBCASummit2026 #LeopardConservation #Coexistence #Biodiversity #IBCAforLeopards #BigCats #IBCAForBigCats MoEF&CC Cape Leopard Trust Parco Natura Viva African Parks Network Wildlife Conservation Society Wildlife Institute of India Wildlife Conservation Society Felidae Conservation Fund CITES IUCN Arabian Leopard Fund صندوق النمر العربي Conservation International Global Leopard Conference
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Yesterday was #InternationalHyenaDay and we’re spreading some love for these misunderstood and often misjudged creatures with an attractive aardwolf from our Cape Leopard Trust Piketberg survey! 🐾 The aardwolf (𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴) belongs to the Hyaenidae family, along with the brown, spotted and striped hyenas. It is a medium-sized mammal native to Southern and Eastern Africa. They are mainly nocturnal (active at night) but may be seen during early morning and late afternoon and on overcast days. They do not actively hunt other animals, but instead are obligate insectivores, meaning they completely rely on insects for food. Aardwolf feed almost exclusively on harvester termites, and a single individual can consume up to 300 000 termites (with a combined weight of 1.2kg!) in one night! One study estimated that a single aardwolf may consume 105 MILLION termites a year, amounting to 420kg!! They only occur in habitat where their main termite food source is present. There is no real evidence for the claim that aardwolf kills and eats lambs or chickens. Their teeth are not adapted to eat meat, and studies of their gut and faecal contents showed no presence of livestock remains. The misconception probably resulted from mistaken identity with hyaenas or jackals, and if an aardwolf is seen eating while hunched over a dead carcass, it is actually eating larvae and beetles. The name aardwolf directly translates as ‘earth wolf’, because it lives in underground burrows. Although they are capable of digging, they mainly use and modify burrows dug by other species like springhares and aardvarks. The aardwolf is also sometimes called ‘maanhaar jakkals’ (maned jackal) due to its ability raise a mane when threatened to appear bigger and more menacing. ℹ️ Info sources: Stuarts’ Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa; The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho #TrailcamTuesday #CLTcreaturefeature #CamTrapChronicles #aardwolf #hyenaday
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Make a note in your diary – Sunday 3 May is #InternationalLeopardDay and the Cape Leopard Trust would like to invite all our supporters to celebrate the spotted big cats of the Cape! Some ideas to inspire you: 🐆🐾🐆 Channel your inner leopard and wear your best leopard-print outfit or any of our CLT merch – socks, caps, buffs or tee’s – and use the opportunity to spread awareness of leopards and the work of the CLT 🏃🚴♀️🥾 Dedicate your run, bike ride, hike or other outdoor activity to leopards and wear some spotty attire! 👩🎨🎨🎭 Make some leopard-inspired arts and crafts 👨🍳🧁🍪 Bake some leopard-themed cookies or cakes 📸 Take photos of your leopard day celebrations and post them to socials, tagging @capeleopardtrust in your pics and using the hashtags #GhostCatsOfTheCape and #LeopardSupporter 🐾 We look forward to celebrating with you! #FelidFriday #FridayFeelgood
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The Cape Leopard Trust Research and Conservation team is proudly driving a new set of Ford wheels! Ford Motor Company, through the Ford Wildlife Foundation, supports research, conservation and environmental education projects around sub-Saharan Africa. The CLT has had #FordWildlifeFoundation bakkies in our fleet for 10 years now, and we remain ever thankful for these capable and reliable off-road vehicles to traverse the mountainous landscapes we have the privilege of working in. Our team recently collected our new sponsored Ford Ranger Tremor from McCarthy Ford Paarl, and were fortunate to receive Ford-specific 4x4 training from the Ford Adventure Club to ensure our field teams can navigate the new vehicle and challenging terrain safely and with confidence. A big thank you to all involved for this fantastic sponsorship – our work would not be possible without your support! #ThankyouThursday #SponsorSpotlight #FordSouthAfrica #OurFordStory
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#EarthDay2026 ~ While everyone’s social feeds will be filled with Earth Day posts today, it is important to remember that we should really live 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 day like it is dedicated to protecting and celebrating our one and only home… This year’s theme of Our Power, Our Planet™ reflects a fundamental truth that transcends political cycles. Environmental stewardship has never depended on a single institution or election. It is sustained by the daily decisions of communities, educators, workers, innovators, and families who understand that protecting the places they live and love is both a responsibility and a long-term investment. #OurPowerOurPlanet #EarthDay #EarthDayEveryDay #ItsNotADayItsAMovement EARTHDAY.ORG
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Run, hike and dress like a leopard!🐆 Join Walk for the Wild at Delheim Wine Estate and experience a spectacular 10 km mountain trail while supporting the Cape Leopard Trust and the Greater Simonsberg Conservancy 🐾 By participating, you’ll help raise awareness and support conservation efforts that protect leopards and their mountain habitat, helping to ensure that these magnificent animals continue to roam our mountains for generations to come. 📅 Saturday, 9 May 🕗 8am to 1pm 📍 Delheim Wine Estate 💸 Tickets on Quicket ~ https://qkt.io/W4Wild
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2026.04.20 update ~ 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗘𝗗! The ➊-🅦🅔🅔🅚 countdown is on! There is still time to sign up for our 2026 Cape Leopard Trust Quiz Night at Jack Black's Taproom in Diep River on Thursday, 23 April. For just R150 per person, put your best paw forward and join us for a fun Earth Month night out – it’s for a great cause and you stand the chance to win exciting prizes from our event partners: Jack Black's Brewing Company, Leopard's Leap Family Vineyards, Wilderness, Sealand Gear, Nova Constantia Boutique Residence and Donkey Long Tong! Reveal your inner wildness with a special prize up for grabs for the best dressed leopard! 🐆🤩 Grab one of the last spots by emailing office@capeleopard.org.za to make a booking. #CapeLeopardTrust #QuizNight Quiz Nite Cape Town
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