According to a report 'Status of Leopards in India' released by the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India’s leopard numbers rose by 8% from 12,852 in 2018 to 13,874 in 2022.
National
According to a report 'Status of Leopards in India' released by the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India’s leopard numbers rose by 8% from 12,852 in 2018 to 13,874 in 2022. This is a gain of 75% from the 7,910 (6,566-9,181) estimated in 2014. As a result, the number of leopards photographed also increased from 1,647 in 2014 to 5,240 in 2018. The 2022 study deployed cameras at 32,803 locations and reported an 8% jump over the 12,852 (12,172-13,535) estimated in 2018. In the common areas covered in both surveys, the rise in numbers is a more modest 4.4%. The report was released by the Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. Madhya Pradesh houses the largest population of leopards in the country: 3907 (2018: 3421), followed by Maharashtra (1985), Karnataka (1,879) and Tamil Nadu (1,070).
The 5th cycle of leopard population estimation (2022) in India focused on forested habitats within 18 tiger states, covering four major tiger conservation landscapes.
Tiger Reserves or sites with the highest leopard population are, Nagarajunasagar Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh), followed by Panna (Madhya Pradesh), and Satpura (Madhya Pradesh).
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India
Union Minister- Bhupender Yadav
State Minister- Ashwini Kumar Choubey
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