Indian leopard suspected to have decreased by 24.5% over last 3 generations: IUCN

Sub: Env

Sec: Species in news

Decline of the Indian Leopard:

The Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) population has potentially declined by 24.5% over the last three generations, according to the IUCN.

Details:

The decline is attributed to range loss and exploitation, though some areas show positive population trends.
Despite an increase in the known range, this may be due to more intensive surveys in previously unstudied areas.
Data on the population size and trends of the Indian leopard remain poor.

Threats to the Indian Leopard:

Poaching remains a significant threat, with an estimated four leopards poached weekly over the past decade for illegal wildlife trade.
Human-leopard conflict and a decline in prey base are other major threats.
In some regions, decreases in wild prey are negatively impacting leopard populations.
Leopard population trends in India’s non-tiger states and non-forested habitats are not well known and may be declining.

Global Leopard Population Trends:

Other leopard subspecies are also showing declining trends, with a global decline of over 30% in the last three generations.
Factors contributing to the decline include habitat fragmentation, forest clearing, prey reductions from bushmeat trade, illegal harvest for skins, and human-wildlife conflict.
Leopards have disappeared from North Africa and are critically endangered in regions such as Indochina, Arabia, and North China.

Conservation Efforts and Assessments:

Some regions, like the Caucasus, Russian Far East, and North East China, have seen increases in leopard populations due to improved survey methods, expanded ranges, or intensive conservation efforts.
The Indochinese leopard (Panthera pardus delacouri), Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) and North China Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis- though not individually assessed) have been assessed to be Critically Endangered.
The Persian and Javan leopards are considered endangered, while the African and Sri Lankan leopards are assessed as vulnerable.

Source: DTE