Photo: Dr. Anish Andheria. 3,50,000 sq. km. of tiger habitats across the nation were covered while reaching population figures of the spotted cat. However, non-tiger states, like the North-East, Gujarat and the hilly terrains of Himachal were skipped altogether.
Previously, the density and distribution of the wild cat was pitched at anything between 10,000 and 45,000. This new figure, albeit another approximation, does narrow down the guesstimate. A total of 7,910 leopards were counted around tiger regions, and through a detailed extrapolation process involving as many as 17,000 photos of 1,647 individual leopards, experts reached an estimate to this national census.
Madhya Pradesh (1,817) emerged as the state with the highest leopard population. Close on its heels was Karnataka (1,129) followed by Uttarakhand (703). The study showed the species well scattered across the country, indicating that the population is quite healthy. “Most of the leopard populations are contiguous, ensuring a healthy genetic exchange. So, leopards do not face the problems of isolated populations that plague Indian tigers," said Yadvendradev V Jhala, lead scientist of the nation-wide tiger census exercise, who presented the leopard figures at Wildlife Institute of India's annual research seminar in Dehradun.
Leopard numbers are better than those of the national animal because the former can survive in scrublands and areas encroached by humans. However, the quality of forests should improve to increase the spotted cat's population, and a detailed census on only the leopards must be conducted across all the forests of India to reach an exact number. Even though for every one wild tiger, there are on an average four wild leopardsin India, the grim reality is that CBI reports indicate that for every tiger pelt, there are seven leopard pelts being smuggled.
Source: The Indian Express Â
            The Times of India
