The number of leopards in India has risen to 13,874 in 2022 from 12,852 in 2018, the latest official data showed.

According to the report released by Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav on Thursday there has been an 8 per cent (1,022) increase in the leopard population in India in the past four years.

Status of leopards in India

“Released the report on Status of Leopards in India today. Happy to share that the estimated leopard population in 70% of the leopard occupied area in India is now 13,874, up from 12,852 in 2018. Central India recorded the highest population with Madhya Pradesh having 3,907 leopards,” Yadav posted on X.

States with highest leopard population 

Madhya Pradesh houses the largest population of leopards in the country — 3907 (2018: 3421), followed by Maharashtra (2022: 1985; 2018: 1,690), Karnataka (2022: 1,879 ; 2018: 1,783) and Tamil Nadu (2022: 1,070; 2018: 868).

“Central India shows a stable or slightly growing population of leopards (2018: 8071, 2022: 8820), Shivalik hills and Gangetic plains experienced decline (2018: 1253, 2022: 1109),” said the report, titled ‘Status of Leopards’.

It said that if we look at the area which was sampled both in 2018 and 2022 across India, there is a 1.08 per cent per annum growth.

Places with highest leopard population

Tiger reserves or places with the highest leopard population are Nagarjuna Sagar in Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh followed by Panna and Satpura in Madhya Pradesh, as per the report.

Population has remained stable 

The report said that the leopard population in the last four years has remained “stable”, indicating “minimal growth”. In comparison to tigers, the leopard population is likely being impacted by human activities in multiple-use areas.

The current trend of poaching is unknown but appears to be a likely cause of the stable population, involving commercial poaching and people’s retaliation due to conflicts with leopards, it said.

source/content: indiatimes.com (headline edited)