INDIAN LEOPARD (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Environment)

Context: Recently, Leopard cat  spotted in Maharashtra’s Pench, in what is being billed as Central India’s first sighting of the species.

Indian leopard:

• About: A subspecies of the leopard (P. pardus) that is widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent. .
• Habitat: They are adaptable to a range of habitats, including the Himalayan foothills, Western Ghats, dry deciduous forests, and the northeastern regions of India.
  • Conservation status:

  o IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

  o CITES: Appendix I

  o Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972: Schedule I

  • Behavioral pattern:

  o Elusiveness and Solitary Behaviour: The leopard is characterized by its elusive nature, preferring solitude, and is primarily active during the night.

  o Climbing Proficiency: Known for its exceptional climbing abilities, the leopard has been observed resting on tree branches during the day.

  o Tree-Associated Behaviours: The leopard exhibits distinctive behaviours such as dragging its kills up trees and suspending them there. It is also capable of descending from trees headfirst.

  • Population and regional distribution:

  o The leopard population in India witnessed an 8% rise from 12,852 in 2018 to 13,874 in 2022.

  o Madhya Pradesh reported the highest leopard count (3,907), followed by Maharashtra (1,985), Karnataka (1,879), and Tamil Nadu (1,070.

  • Human-Leopard Conflict:

  o Leopards' adaptability  leads to conflict, particularly in villages, as they are known to prey on cattle, resulting in higher mortality rates