Bhubaneswar: The first-ever Leopard Census Report released recently revealed that Odisha is home to 696 leopards. The census was undertaken independently by the Odisha Forest Department.
As per a report published by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in February 2022, 568 leopards were found in Odisha that year. In 2018, the population of leopards in Odisha rose to 760.
As these numbers were not backed by substance, the state Forest Department decided to undertake its own leopard census.
Camera traps were used during the recent leopard census. As many as 284 cameras were strategically placed at various forest areas and the census was undertaken by analysing photographs, pugmarks, and other tracking methods.
Forest Department leopard census offers crucial insights on the population of the big cats in the state and is expected to guide future conservation efforts.
