Leopards In A Spot

Rajasthan has taken a welcome step in leopard conservation by becoming the first state in India to launch a project that aims to protect the spotted feline by mitigating conflicts with humans and controlling poaching.

- Sneha Mahale

It shares its territory with the tiger in 17 states. Its range extends across India—from tropical rainforests and alpine coniferous forests to dry shrubs and grasslands. Yet, despite its much-admired capability to survive across a wide range of habitats, on March 8, Rajasthan became the first state in the country to launch a project to conserve leopards by improving their prey base, mitigating conflicts with humans and controlling poaching. A sum of ₹7 crore was set aside for Project Leopard.

Incidentally, the spotted cat has been instrumental in boosting tourism in the state. Leopard safaris are a major attraction in the Jhalana Forest Reserve near Jaipur, in the Jawai region of the Pali district and even the Sariska Tiger Reserve, where it now hogs the limelight with the tiger. At the same time, the leopard remains protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List. A 2015 wildlife census puts their number in the state at 434, and as many as 20 leopards have reportedly been killed between 2014 and 2016 in accidents or due to animal-human conflict. This makes its tryst with Rajasthan an unusual one.

Wide range

Historically, because of their ability to adapt to different habitats, leopards have inhabited the entire Indian subcontinent and continue to do so, despite the huge man-made pressures and habitat fragmentation.