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Living With Leopards

“The leopard is perhaps the only large feline that has learnt to share his habitat (and dangerously so) with humans. Now, that’s a first that calls for enthusiastic encouragement!”

The leopard, due to its small size, great cunning and adaptability, is perhaps the only large feline that has learnt to share his habitat with humans. Shrinking and fragmented forests, lack of a prey base, territorial conflicts are bringing this elusive cat out into the open and often next to human habitation. However, its bold forays have led to increasing conflict with humans. Leopards are increasingly being found in sugarcane fields and in people’s houses near forested areas, leading to increased incidences of man animal conflict.

To design a conservation strategy for the leopard it is necessary to understand the current distribution of leopards in Gujarat and their conservation status. Why are the leopards leaving the habitats and venturing into human habitation? Is it because of increase in their numbers (as claimed by the forest department)? Where all do the leopards wander? What is the attitude of the people towards leopards?  Where are the cases of man –leopard conflict? What measures are used by the people to protect themselves and their livestock in leopard prone areas? How much leopard habitat is still favorable?

OBJECTIVES
The study of leopard conservation in Sugar belt region of South Gujarat that will serve:

1. To understand the current distribution of the leopard and assess their numbers by interviewing, collating forest department information
2. To study the cases of man leopard conflict
3. To understand people’s attitude towards the leopard
4.  To study the Leopard-Human conflict as a tool for understanding leopard habitat utilization in and outside the protected area network by involving the local community
5. To determine prey availability and human land use patterns near protected areas known to have a significant leopard population
6. To educate the community members about the nature and habits of leopards, the need for their conservation and the safety measures to be taken if leopards are known to be present in the area.
7. Develop educational material on safe practices when living next to carnivores
8. Develop communication material for responsible reporting for the media that will lead to a more tolerant attitude towards the leopard.