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Leopard
Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca)
Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca)
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Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca)
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  (01-03-2020, 09:58 AM)Sully Wrote: Leopard deaths in accidents rose by 278% in 10 years, shows data Albeit distressing, it's not too surprising, given that India is much more densely populated by humans than Africa. Both India and Africa have populations of over 1.3 billion, with the latter's population catching up with that of the former, but India's area is about 3.287 million km², whereas Africa's is about 30.37 million km², so imagine, with an area about one-tenth that of Africa, India has slightly more people! What that has meant for the Indian leopardis that urban areas have expanded, and natural habitats have diminished, forcing leopards to coexist with humans, even if that means preying on them or domestic livestock for survival, and likewise for other animals, including the tiger: https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2016...icon-city/ 
Ananda Majumdar
Killer cat Rajasthan leopard with nilgai hind kill  *This image is copyright of its original author
Authorities giving free hand to poachers by overlooking existence of leopards
 *This image is copyright of its original author By Ashish Rajput :
It is not the first time that a leopard was spotted in Nayagaon but it has also been spotted in Khamaria, Dumna, Nayagaon, Madan Mahal and other adjoining areas in regular intervals
Overlooking existence of leopard proved dear for Forest Department as it threatened life of a leopard. In fact, competent authorities already know about existence of leopards in their natural habitat but no concrete measure to protect this wild animal or conserving its territory has been taken so far. If wildlife experts are to believed there are several leopards in the district and most of them are located in and around restricted areas of Ordnance Factories and Dumna Nature Reserve.
It is not the first time that a leopard was spotted only in Nayagaon but it has also been spotted in Khamaria, Dumna, Nayagaon, Madan Mahal and other adjoining areas in regular intervals along with female and cubs but not a single incident of man eating or man and animal conflict has been reported. Insensitive working of district authorities has given free hand to poachers due to which the leopards are at risk and this has endangered the wildlife.
Divisional Forest Officer Ravindra Mani Tripathi, while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ informed that old records prove that forest areas in and around the district are old territories of leopard. The department always took action in case of spotting leopard in and around residential areas but no untoward incident has been reported till date. He added that the department took serious measures into the death of leopard and separate teams have been constituted for identification of more leopards.
Sukhwinder Singh
Beautiful Ranthambore leopard.  *This image is copyright of its original author
  *This image is copyright of its original author sunilmehtajaipur-A new big male leopard is now attempting to establish its territory at Jhalana Leopard Reserve. Studies reveal that migration of leopards is common in the area. Several Leopards that are thought to be missing, have actually moved on to other territories. This is the law of nature. #jhalanaadventures #leopardsofjaipur 
Dinesh Balakrishnan
Old warrior of kabini Aug 2019  *This image is copyright of its original author
Shaaz Jung: " An eerie glow of first light hangs between the trees, silhouettes of branches dance without their leaves, wicked is the wind that waltzes thick as thieves, frigid is the mist for in it something breathes.
This image does absolutely no justice to what we had witnessed that morning. We drove out at first light and watched darkness lift to reveal nothing but ambiguous shapes in the thick mist. We parked ourselves under the old Banyan, where he was seen the day before. The silence was deafening and dawn was like the dead of night. No songbirds sang, no crickets hummed yet there was an eerie sensation of being watched. Spending years on the same track, tracking the same animals, strengthens your intuition and within minutes a ghostly figure slowly took shape on the road ahead. It drifted by us in absolute silence and was by far my most chilling experience with the black panther. View my story for the BTS video. At this point, the light was far better but the image above was shot in extremely low light. I’ve played around with it in post to revive some light but kept it dark to try and retain some of it’s original vibe. ."  *This image is copyright of its original author Saurabh Kalia-The Hulk of Jhalana- RamboJaipur, Rajasthan Jan 2020
Numbers on decline: After tigers, is it time for 'save leopard' project in India
New Delhi, Feb 08: Trashing reports that claim an increasing leopard population is leading to a rise in man-animal conflict, a recent study by scientists has revealed that their numbers have in fact dropped by 75-90% in the past 120 to 200 years. The findings has once again triggered a debate for a tiger like conservation efforts to save leopards, known to exist very close to human habitations.  *This image is copyright of its original author The scientists have recommended that similar conservation attention be given to leopards as is given to tigers to contain a further decline in distribution and numbers. A study by the scientists at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, and the Centre for Wildlife Studies, Bangalore, has found that leopards have experienced a "human-induced 75 to 90 per cent population decline" over the past 120 to 200 years. The report contrasts with earlier studies in India that had suggested stable or even increasing local leopard population trends. However, the study also said that despite this population decline, leopards in India still retain high genetic variation, marked by four distinct genetic subpopulations, similar to patterns found in eastern and southern Africa. "It is amazing - we have similar findings from two research approaches," said Krithi Karanth, chief conservation scientist at the CWS. The research team has used historical records from hunting and taxidermy notes to documented observations from the mid-19th century through the 20th century to map changing habitats and occupancy of leopards. "Leopards demand similar conservation attention like tigers in India," the researchers said. The report believes that habitat loss, prey population declines, wildlife trade and human-wildlife conflict have contributed to the fall in the leopard population. An effort akin to Project Tiger? Save tiger project was a milestone for India but the journey has not been easy. Around the 1970s the tiger count was only one thousand and two hundred. But now we have as many as 2,967 tigers in the wild, a thirty per cent rise in the population in the last eight years. This says a lot about the efforts put in by the government and the national parks. India has shown its magic of conserving wildlife with novel initiatives, right from turning hunting grounds to tiger reserves. They have also updated the acts regarding forest and wildlife. Any kind of illegal trading of animals has been banned. Human interference in any of the reserves and forests is not allowed and the world has recognised this project as the 'Most successful project'. The project made sure that along with tigers, other wildlife also gets protected. What we now know about leopards Despite being majestic as well as endangered, leopards are the most ignored big cats in India. Also referred to as Panthera pardus fusca, Leopard is a vulnerable species listed on the IUCN Red List because of its declining population. The world got to know about this panther-like animal only in the 18th century. Leopard could run faster than any other animal. In India, the population of Leopard was estimated to be around 12,000-14,000 as per 2015 census. The big cats conservation is often clubbed with tigers because many leopards are in tiger reserves. Lack of a reliable count of their numbers has led to negligence, with no systematic protection plans. SC on Project leopard In November 2018, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to launch efforts to save leopards on the lines of Project Tiger. The order was passed following a public interest litigation filed by animal rights activist Anupam Tripathi. Tripathi claimed in the year 2016 alone, India lost 455 leopards followed by 431 leopard deaths in 2017. In the first two months of this year i.e. January and February 2018, India has lost 106 leopards owing to a wide number of reasons....which are a mix of poaching and man and leopard conflict. The court had sought a response from the Centre on whether it was open to launching a "Project Leopard" along the lines of Project Tiger. Project Tiger is a considered a highly successful conservation programme for the national animal. Challenges Poaching and habitat loss have been major hurdle in saving the big cat. Their bones and other body parts are also in demand for use in traditional Asian medicines. |
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