Author: Krithika Sampath
This is the first article from our two-part series titled, Human-leopard Interactions.
Big cats are considered, arguably, the most charismatic wildlife, and are essential for maintaining the health of ecosystems. Yet, humanity’s history with felids has often been that of the hunter and the hunted. On one hand, injuries to livestock and/or people can be fatal, causing heavy emotional and financial distress to victims. On the other hand, frustration and anger can lead to retaliation against big cats. These negative interactions can influence how people perceive carnivores, leading to gross misconceptions.
Over 65% of India’s landmass supports an estimated 12,000 leopards. Consequently, leopard presence- and hence conflict- is commonplace in many human settlements surrounding leopard habitats. Negative interactions between people and leopards are accompanied by heavy financial transactions. Farmers have to repeatedly invest in predation-proofing mechanisms (fencing, scare devices, enclosures etc.), while governments, wildlife managers and conservationists pay for pre- and post- conflict resolution measures, including ex-gratia payments.
What factors affect leopard predation on livestock? How does the presence of wild herbivores affect leopard predation on livestock? To understand the complex dynamics of humans, leopards and natural prey in shared landscapes, authors Mahi Puri, Arjun Srivathsa, Dr. Krithi K. Karanth, Imran Patel and Dr. N. Samba Kumar assessed leopard distribution, diet and drivers of human-leopard conflict in Madhya Pradesh.
Leopards were present in about 80% of the 10,000 km2 forest land between Kanha and Pench national parks. They were found to favor areas with forest cover and abundant wild prey, while staying away from relatively large human settlements. Over 90% of the leopard diet comprised of wild herbivores. While leopards did feed on livestock and dogs, they formed a very small part of their diet (about 3%). Surprisingly, langur formed a huge part of the leopard diet- perhaps because of the competition posed by other carnivores (tigers, dholes and wolves) in the landscape.
What would happen if wild prey numbers were to reduce due to increased human presence and forestland conversion to agriculture? At the time of the study, over 80% of the people experienced leopard attacks on livestock. Presence of large livestock herds within relatively isolated human settlements were major factors influencing leopard attacks. However, if the wild prey population were to halve, the authors estimate that livestock prey in leopard diet would increase significantly (from 3% to about 40%) to support the current leopard population!
Leopards are highly adaptable, and perhaps the only felid species to have a huge presence within human- modified landscapes. Within the study area, adequate forest cover and wild prey abundance favoured the presence of leopards. In an unbalanced leopard- wild prey- human ecosystem, declines in leopard populations could lead to more herbivores feeding on crops. Conversely, declines in wild prey population could lead to more attacks on livestock. Sustaining the leopard and wild prey equilibrium could offer important economic benefits to people, but needs to be accompanied by ecologically sound forest management practices, and mechanisms to foster positive interactions with carnivores.
Research Article: The balancing act: Maintaining leopard-wild prey equilibrium could offer economic benefits to people in a shared forest landscape of central India – Mahi Puri, Arjun Srivathsa, Krithi Karanth, Imran Patel, and N Samba kumarl – Ecological Indicators, 2020
Find the original research paper here.
Find the Kannada translation here.
