In a first ever initiative, Karnataka Forest Department and Nature Conservation Foundation jointly initiated a scientific study on leopards. The study deals with leopards and their abundance, their distribution, their habitat requirements for optimal density, and spatial and temporal distribution of human-leopard conflict.
The study aims to look at leopard ecology and conflict in protected areas and reserved forests of Karnataka. This is perhaps the largest study on leopards carried out anywhere in the country, spread over 27,000 km2 covering five protected areas and five territorial divisions.
Under the project, the first-ever density estimates for leopards has been brought out from Bhadravathi forest division. Camera trapping was carried out in a 315 km2 area to estimate leopard density in 14 reserved/minor forests that are contiguous.
According to Sanjay Gubbi, the wildlife biologist and project director of the study, the results have been positive and are highly surprising. He said, “The estimate population of leopards from the area is 44. These forests hold an amazing density of 11 leopards/100 km2. This is one of the highest densities of leopards recorded in the country, especially from reserved forests, depicting that leopards still need natural habitat such as forests and can reach high densities even in reserved forests provided suitable cover and prey is available”.
Commenting on the project Vinay luthra, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Karnataka Forest Department, said, “The study underlines how much we still have to learn about the distribution and ecology of leopards, not just in protected areas but outside as well.”
As part of this, a total of 5,412 trap day efforts were put that yielded a total of 395 leopard photo captures. The individual leopards were identified using the rosette patterns on their right and left flanks. Panthera V4 camera traps were used for the study. Apart from leopard densities, prey encounter rate was also calculated to get an idea about domestic and wild prey availability. Gubbi said, “The mean encounter rate in camera traps of wild prey such as wild pig (5.97), Sambar (3.58) and black-naped hare (16.2) were fairly significant though encounter rate for domestic prey (livestock and dogs) was higher.”
“We are not sure if leopards rely more on wild prey or domestic prey in this area. However, reliance of leopards on domestic prey can lead to conflict. Hence, it’s important that suitable protection is accorded to improve wild prey densities in the area,” Gubbi added.
A total of 22 mammal species were recorded from the area of which five are listed under Schedule-I of The Wildlife Protection Act (leopard, rusty-spotted cat, gaur, four-horned antelope and mouse deer). Other carnivore species that were recorded in this area includes dhole, sloth bear, jackal, rusty-spotted cat, jungle cat and others. Herbivore species included gaur, sambar, chital, barking deer, wild pig, mouse deer, porcupine and others. Camera traps also recorded four-horned antelope and Indian fox that are generally thought to be species of the drier areas.
Based on the results, the wildlife biologists recommend that the study area be declared as a wildlife sanctuary under section 26A of The Wildlife Protection Act 1972.