Maharashtra has second-largest leopard population

Maharashtra has the second highest leopard population in the country according to a recent report The findings come as good news to wildlife lovers but also highlight the importance of keeping the forest cover intact The lsquoStatus of Leopards in Indiarsquo report released on Thursday estimated Indiarsquos leopard population at 13874 range 1261615132 representing a stable population in comparison to the findings of in 2018 which found 12852 1217213535 leopards in a similar survey areaWildlife Institute of India WII Director Virendra Tiwari told midday that Madhya Pradesh houses the largest population of leopards in the country with 3907 of the big cats followed by Maharashtra with 1985 in 2022 In 2018 the two staTes recorded leopard populations at 3421 and 1690 respectively This allIndia estimate of 13874 represents 70 per cent of the leopard habitat as the Himalayas and semiarid parts of the country which are not tiger habitats were not sampledAs per the estimates Central India shows a stable or slightly growing population of leopards 2018 8071 2022 8820 while Shivalik Hills and Gangetic plains witnessed a decline 2018 1253 2022 1109 Areas sampled across India in 2018 witnessed 108 per cent per annum pcpa growth by 2022 while the Shivalik Hills and Gangetic plains saw a 34 pcpa decline in numbers The largest growth rate of 15 pcpa was recorded in central India and the Eastern GhatsAlso Read How elephants grieve and bury their deadAfter MP and Maharashtra Karnataka takes the third spot with a leopard population of 1879 in 2022 up from 1783 in 2018 followed by Tamil Nadu 2022 1070 2018 868 Tiger Reserves or forest sites with the highest leopard population are Nagarajunasagar Srisailam Andhra Pradesh followed by Panna MP and Satpura MPAccording to the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change the fifth cycle of leopard population estimation 2022 in India focused on forested habitats within 18 tiger states covering four major tiger conservation landscapes Nonforested habitats arid and high Himalayas that are 2000 metres above sea level and account for 30 per cent of the land area were not sampled for leopard populationsThe study also included a foot survey spanning across 641449 km to estimate carnivore signs and prey abundance Camera traps were strategically placed at 32803 locations resulting in a total of 47081881 photographs with leopards being pictured 85488 timesThe findings underscore the critical role of protected areas in conserving leopard populations While tiger reserves serve as important strongholds addressing conservation gaps outside protected areas is equally vital Rising incidents of mananimal conflict pose challenges for both leopards and communities Since leopard survival outside protected areas is equally important collaborative efforts involving government agencies conservation organisations and local communities are essential to enhance habitat protection and mitigate humanwildlife conflictExpert SpeakWildlife conservationist Kedar Gore from The Corbett Foundation said leopards are incredible creatures surviving on a variety of prey from jungle fowl to sambar deer and the freeranging dog ldquoThe big cats can survive in a wide range of habitats from sugarcane fields to dense forests This adaptability makes them perfect candidates for the survival of the fittest award Project Tiger has benefitted leopards too and they have occupied the niche of being top predators in areas where tigers are not foundrdquoGore said an increase in numbers indicates the success of the conservation programmes but it is also a matter of concern especially in areas where leopards have a high population density around humandominated landscapes Mumbais SGNP is a classic case where the leopard density is the highest in the world ldquoSuch large populations bring in their set of problems such as frequent negative interactions between humans and leopards We now need to urgently plan measures to make sure this coexistence remains harmonious This is easier said than done and will need discussions on adopting nonlethal measures for controlling the populations of leopards keeping in mind the carrying capacity of the areardquo Gore saidBombay Natural History Society BNHS Director Kishor Rithe said ldquoThe leopard population is stable and not increasing like tigers as leopards live around human habitation and hence are more vulnerable to threats like poaching poisoning and accidental deaths due to linear infrastructurerdquo1985No of Leopards in state 2022