The estimated leopard population in India is now 13,874, up from 12,852 in 2018, according to a report released by Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday.

Central India recorded the highest population with Madhya Pradesh having 3,907 leopards.

The report said India’s leopard population in 70 per cent of the cat occupied area is estimated at 13,874 (Range: 12,616 – 15,132) individuals, representing stable population in comparison to the similar area being sampled in 2018 with 12,852 (12,172-13,535) individuals,

Madhya Pradesh housed the largest population of leopards in the country at 3,907 in 2022 (2018: 3,421), followed by Maharashtra 1,985 (2018: 1,690), Karnataka at 1,879(2018: 1,783) and Tamil Nadu at 1,070 (2018: 868).

Tiger reserves or sites with highest leopard population are, Nagarajunasagar Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh), followed by Panna (Madhya Pradesh), and Satpura (Madhya Pradesh), the report added.

Congratulating all the contributors in this crucial mission, the Environment Minister said, “Project Tiger’s inclusive approach underscores ecosystem interconnectedness and diverse species conservation. Under our Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance, this conservation journey embodies the ethos of one Earth, one family, and one Future.’’

According to the report, Central India showed a stable or slightly growing population of leopards. The number increased to 8,820 in 2022 compared to 8,071 in 2018 whereas Shivalik hills and Gangetic plains experienced decline to 1,109 in 2022 against 1,253 in 2018.

It is to be noted that the area which was sampled both in 2018 and 2022 across India, there is a 1.08 per cent per annum growth.

The report pointed out that in Shivalik hills and Gangetic plains, there is a -3.4 per cent decline per annum, while the largest growth rate was in Central India and Eastern Ghats of 1.5per cent.

The fifth cycle leopard population estimation in India (2022) was carried out by the National Tiger Conservation Authority and Wildlife Institute of India, in collaboration with State Forest Departments, as part of the quadrennial “Monitoring of Tiger, Co-predators, prey and their habitat” exercise in tiger range States.

The study focused on forested habitats within 18 tiger states, covering four major tiger conservation landscapes.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) spearheaded the fifth cycle of leopard population estimation, shedding light on the status and trends of these elusive big cats.