Leopard populations decline in parts of Odisha, WII study finds

A study by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has revealed a declining trend in leopard and prey populations across parts of Odisha. While India’s overall large-carnivore population has increased, the east-central region has not followed this trend due to threats including poaching, habitat destruction, and human-wildlife conflict.

Sponsored by the Odisha Forest Department, the research focused on the Similipal-Satkosia landscape. Using camera-trap surveys and density estimates, researchers found that leopard densities varied significantly by location. The highest densities were recorded in the Satkosia and Mahanadi wildlife divisions of the Satkosia Tiger Reserve, with 17.9 and 11.9 leopards per 100 km², respectively.

In contrast, the study found that leopards were functionally extinct in the Kuldiha and Hadagarh Wildlife Sanctuaries, and remained at low densities in the Rebana Reserve Forest. These declines are linked to the low density or absence of medium- to large-sized ungulates, which serve as a primary food source for the leopards.