Leopard Died in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve | 14 Nov 2024

Why in News?

Recently, a leopard died at Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR).

• Earlier a group of elephants had also died in the BTR due to toxicity from over consumption of fungal-infected kodo millet plants.

Key Points

• About Leopard:
  • The leopard (Panthera pardus) is the smallest of the Big Cat family (of genus Panthera namely the Tiger, Lion ,Jaguar, Leopard, and Snow Leopard), and is known for its ability to adapt in a variety of habitats.
  • A nocturnal animal, feeds on smaller species of herbivores found in its range, such as the chital, hog deer and wild boar.
• Melanism in Leopards:
  • Melanism is a common occurrence in leopards, wherein the entire skin of the animal is black in colour, including its spots.
    • A melanistic leopard is often called a black panther and is mistakenly thought to be a different species.
• Geographical Extent:
  • Members of the cat family, leopards live in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Russia, and the Indian subcontinent.
    • The Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is found extensively across the Indian subcontinent.
• Population in India:
  • As per the ‘Status of Leopards in India, 2022’, India's leopard population rose by 8% from 12,852 in 2018 to 13,874 in 2022.
    • About 65% of the leopard population is present outside protected areas in the Shivalik landscape. Only about a third of the leopards are within protected areas.
  • Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of leopards (3,907), followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
• Threat:
  • Habitat loss
  • Poaching
  • Human-wildlife conflict
• Protection Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I