Leopard population in Odisha’s forests jumps by 22% to 696 in two years

The All Odisha Leopard Estimation 2024, released recently, estimates the State’s leopard population to range between 668 and 724, with a median count of 696.

All Odisha Leopard Estimation 2024

• Key Highlights: 
  • Leopard Population Increase: Odisha’s leopard population has risen by 22% between 2022 and 2024, from 568 to 696 leopards.
  • 2024 Leopard Estimation: The All Odisha Leopard Estimation 2024 reported a range of 668 to 724 leopards, with a median of 696.
  • Comparison to Previous Census: In 2018, NTCA estimated the population at 760 leopards; however, it dropped to 568 by 2022.
  • Statewide Monitoring: The estimation was conducted across 47 forest divisions using both field surveys and camera traps.
  • Melanistic Leopards: Rare melanistic leopards (black panthers) were recorded in Odisha.
    • Melanism is a common trait in leopards, causing their entire skin and spots to turn black. It’s caused by a recessive mutation in the ASIP (agouti signalling protein) gene. 

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• Estimation Techniques:
  • Camera Traps: Leopards were identified using camera traps, focusing on their unique rosette patterns. 
    • This technique is widely used in national leopard population assessments.
  • Field Survey: Indirect evidence, including pugmarks, scats, scrapes, and vocalisations, was used to track leopard presence.
• Important Habitats:
  • Similipal Tiger Reserve: Largest leopard population in the state. This landscape is vital for leopard dispersal to nearby wildlife sanctuaries like Hadagarh and Kuldiha.
  • Satkosia Landscape: Holds the second-highest leopard population in the state.
  • Hirakud Wildlife Division: Including Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, it has a significant leopard population.
  • Leopard Presence in Non-Protected Areas: 45% of leopards live outside protected areas in territorial forest divisions.

Leopard Population in India: Fifth Cycle Leopard Population Estimation (2022)

• Released: In 2024 by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
• Involved Organisations: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), along with State Forest Departments,
• Coverage of the survey: Leopard Population concentrated on roughly 70% of the animals’ predicted habitat and encompassed 18 states in India. 
  • The estimation covered the main areas for tiger conservation—forested habitats—within 18 tiger states. 
  • High Himalayan (above 2000 m) and non-forested areas were not included.
• Methodology: To estimate leopard abundance, photo-captures were combined with spatial data on prey, habitat, and anthropogenic factors using a likelihood-based spatially explicit capture mark-recapture (SECR) covariate framework.
• Population Estimate: 13,874 leopards are thought to exist in India, a stable number when compared to the 2018 estimate (12852). 
• Geographical  Trends: The population of Central India is constant or slightly increasing, although areas such as the Shivalik hills and Gangetic plains are declining. 
  • The selected areas are growing at a rate of 1.08% annually overall.
• Distribution by State: With 3907 (2018: 3421) leopards, Madhya Pradesh has the highest population in the nation. It is followed by Maharashtra (2022: 1985; 2018: 1,690), Karnataka (2022: 1,879; 2018: 1,783), and Tamil Nadu (2022: 1,070; 2018: 868).
• Environment: The tiger reserves or locations with the greatest concentration of leopards are Satpura (AP), Panna (MP), and Nagarjunasagar Srisailam (AP).
• Declining Population: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and West Bengal recorded a combined 150% increase to 349 large cats
  • Uttarakhand reported a 22% fall in big cat numbers, presumably due to poaching and man-animal conflict.

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