IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Qamar, Q.; Yadvendradev, V.J.; Satya, P.Y.; Virendra, R.T.; Rajendra, G.; Amit, M. | |
| Status of Leopards in India | |
| 2024 Full Book | |
Leopards have held cultural significance in ancient civilizations, symbolizing power, agility, and nobility. Today, contemporary portrayals across various mediums continue to highlight their strength, courage, and sensuality. The Indian leopard (_Panthera pardus fusca_) is distributed across a variety of forested habitats in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of Pakistan, excluding mangrove forests and desert habitats (Prater 1980, Daniel 1996). Despite being listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and classified as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN Red List, leopard populations face significant threats including habitat loss, fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, poaching, and illegal trade. Leopards occupy a prominent position in the trophic pyramid alongside tigers, lions and dholes exhibiting adaptability in habitat and dietary preferences, and playing a vital role as top predators in a wide array of landscapes across India. However, their adaptability often leads to conflicts with humans, posing a significant conservation challenge within their range.Global distribution and population trends indicate significant declines due to various anthropogenic pressures, including habitat loss, prey depletion, and poaching. The NTCA, in collaboration with state forest departments and coordinated by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) conducts comprehensive assessments of tiger habitats, which also include data on leopard density and abundance. Genetic diversity varies across landscapes, with central India exhibiting the highest diversity. Unlike tiger populations, leopard populations show weak structuring across landscapes, with shared genetic affinity between different regions. |
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