Success Samrat

THE POPULATION OF THE ANIMAL HAS RISEN BY 60% IT WAS 7910 IN 2014 AND NOW ITS IS 12852. THE MADHYA PRADESH ALONE HAS 3421 LEOPARDS. THE STATE TOPPED THE CENSUS.

Panthera pardus is the zoological name of the Leopard. The animal is a member of the Felidae family. The distribution of the cat is across the 35,000,000 km². Its presence has spanned from sub-Saharan, North Africa, Middle East, Asia Minor, South and South East Asia to Amur Valley in Russia. The island countries where it is found are Sri-Lanka, Java, Kangean and Zanzibar. The animal is found almost in all types of habitat. The habitat ranges from rain forest to arid desert to temperate regions. Panthera pardus fusca is the scientific name of the Indian leopard. The habitat of Indian leopard excludes arid desert and the Himalayan timberline. In the Himalayas, they are sympatric with Panthera uncia zoological name of the Snow Leopard.

The population of the animal has decreased due to habitat destruction, uncontrolled poaching and prey destruction. As a result of the destruction, nearly 48-67% of African species and 83-87% of Asian species are lost. Therefore the International Union For Conservation Of Nature (IUCN) has altered the status from ‘Near Threatened’ to ‘Vulnerable’. Under Convention On International Trade Of Endangered Species (CITES), they are listed under Appendix I. The cat is also protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. In India, according to the new census, the population of the cat has risen by 60%.

According to the report-” Status Of Leopard In India 2018″ the population of the cat in four years has increased to 12,852 from 7910 in 2014. The study was conducted by capturing 5,240 leopards on camera apart from satellite imaging and fieldwork. The forest officers teamed up with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute Of India (WII).

STATE WISE POPULATION OF LEOPARD IN INDIA

SOME FACTS-

• WESTERN GHATS IS THE HOME OF 3387 LEOPARDS.
• KARNATAKA TOPPED IN WESTERN GHATS.
• TOTAL OF 6758 LEOPARDS WAS PHOTOGRAPHED FROM THE WESTERN GHATS.
• IT HELPED IN IDENTIFICATION OF 1681 ADULTS AND MINORS.