Increased Risk of Extinction of Leopards: Study

Context

According to a latest study, the leopard (Panthera pardus) faces an 83% increased risk of extinction in North India due to roadkill and other issues.

What has been found in the study?

• The leopard population of North India is at highest risk among four animal populations identified as being the most vulnerable to extinction in the next 50 years if observed roadkill levels persist.
• At an 83% increased risk, it is estimated the time to the North Indian leopard population’s extinction at 33 years.
• Other populations found highly vulnerable include the lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) and sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) in South India.
• Leopard is followed by the manned wolf and the little spotted cat. Both species are of Brazil.

Important facts about Leopard (Panthera pardus)

• Leopard is the smallest of the Big Cats (Of genus Panthera namely the Tiger, Lion, Jaguar, Leopard, and Snow Leopard), and known for its ability to adapt in a variety of habitats.
• A nocturnal animal, the leopard hunts by night.
• It feeds on smaller species of herbivores found in its range, such as the chital, hog deer and wild boar.
• 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 black panther or jaguar, and mistakenly thought to be a different species
• Habitat: The species occurs in a wide range in sub-Saharan Africa, in small parts of Western and Central Asia, on the Indian subcontinent to Southeast and East Asia.

• The Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is a leopard widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent.

Distribution of its population in India

• There has been a “60% increase in the population count of leopards in India from 2014 estimates”, as per ‘Status of leopards in India, 2018’ released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• The largest number of leopards have been estimated in Madhya Pradesh (3,421) followed by Karnataka (1,783) and Maharashtra (1,690).