Followers at Shembe gathering

Today, leopard skins are in increasing demand among members of South Africa’s Shembe Baptist Church, which has adopted the Zulu practice of wearing spotted cat fur (mainly leopard) during religious celebrations. Although trade in leopard skins is illegal in South Africa, the practice is widespread and expanding among the Shembe’s estimated 5 million members. Last year, Panthera’s Leopard Program Coordinator, Tristan Dickerson, attended several Shembe gatherings to investigate the amount of leopard skins being used at these events. These videos were taken by Tristan at the various Shembe gatherings he attended in 2010. For more information please visit bit.ly