LEOPARD |
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KARNATAKA, SOUTHERN INDIA
Leopards are constantly in the news because of high frequency of human-leopard interactions in India. In 2013–2014, we used 245 newspaper reports of leopards to find out (a) where they are found, (b) why they attack livestock and (c) how wildlife managers handle leopard conflict situations in Karnataka. We found that leopards occupied 50% of the State, livestock attacks were not as common as predicted, and wildlife managers were not adequately equipped to handle conflict situations. The study can be found here.
Leopards are socially subordinate to dholes and tigers in most places where to co-occur. In 2013, we studied how leopards co-exist with dholes and tigers across four protected reserves in the Western Ghats. We found that the three carnivores carefully avoid each other in space and time to co-exist, so long as there is enough prey to sustain them. Results from this study are published here.
MAHARASHTRA, WESTERN INDIA
We conducted landscape-scale surveys across western Maharashtra in 2015. The 89,000 sq. km landscape is predominantly human-dominated and semi-arid, and is rapidly changing into intensive agricultural use. Through interviews of local informants, our aim was to understand what factors facilitate leopard presence in the landscape. The paper based on this study can be accessed here.
We conducted landscape-scale surveys across western Maharashtra in 2015. The 89,000 sq. km landscape is predominantly human-dominated and semi-arid, and is rapidly changing into intensive agricultural use. Through interviews of local informants, our aim was to understand what factors facilitate leopard presence in the landscape. The paper based on this study can be accessed here.
KANHA–PENCH, CENTRAL INDIA
In 2015–2016, we surveyed the forest corridor between Kanha and Pench reserves in central India to understand leopard diet, distribution and depredation patterns. We conducted indirect sign surveys to assess leopard distribution, analyzed leopard poop to understand their diet profile, and conducted interview surveys of local residents to document conflict patterns. The paper based on this study can be accessed here.
In 2015–2016, we surveyed the forest corridor between Kanha and Pench reserves in central India to understand leopard diet, distribution and depredation patterns. We conducted indirect sign surveys to assess leopard distribution, analyzed leopard poop to understand their diet profile, and conducted interview surveys of local residents to document conflict patterns. The paper based on this study can be accessed here.
RAJASTHAN, NORTHWEST INDIA
From January 2016 to December 2018, we used media reports to examine human–leopard interactions in Rajasthan, India. We extracted news reports on leopard-related incidents, and categorized, mapped and analysed them to understand the nature and extent of interactions. A majority of leopard-related incidents were in the eastern half of the State. Most of the reported interactions appeared to be non-negative, despite losses to both leopards and people. Our results provide a synthesis of spatio-temporal patterns of leopard-related incidents, which could help wildlife managers in better addressing negative interactions. The paper based on this study is currently under review.
From January 2016 to December 2018, we used media reports to examine human–leopard interactions in Rajasthan, India. We extracted news reports on leopard-related incidents, and categorized, mapped and analysed them to understand the nature and extent of interactions. A majority of leopard-related incidents were in the eastern half of the State. Most of the reported interactions appeared to be non-negative, despite losses to both leopards and people. Our results provide a synthesis of spatio-temporal patterns of leopard-related incidents, which could help wildlife managers in better addressing negative interactions. The paper based on this study is currently under review.
