Prowling glory: Gujarat leopard count up 63% to 2,274

The leopard is changing its spots in Gujarat. According to the latest forest department census, the state has registered a 63% rise in the leopard population in the past six years - from 1,395 in 2016 to 2,274 in 2023.

For the first time, one leopard has been sighted in Ahmedabad and 105 in Bharuch, where none existed earlier.

The presence of the big cat has doubled in districts like Junagadh, Surat and Gir-Somnath, which also comes as a warning against rise in incidences of human-animal conflict.

The Gujarat figures are in sync with India's official leopard count which had registered an increase of 63% in four years, according to the central government's 2021 report.

 The leopard population is the highest in Junagadh at 578 now against 374 in 2016 followed by Gir Somnath where the count has gone up to 257 against 111 in 2016. 

In terms of percentage increase, Morbi leads the pack, followed by Mahisagar and Surendranagar (see box).

The state forest officials said that leopards were spotted in almost all districts of Saurashtra region barring Botad. 

The region accounts for 50% of the leopards in the state. In 2016, Saurashtra was home to 700 of the 1,395 leopards while in the latest census, the number has increased by 60% to 1,117.

The count was the highest in the areas around Gir, mainly because of the presence of lions in the region. 

These wild felines are usually found to be scavenging for leftovers of animals hunted by the lions. Besides, their preferred food sources are ungulates which are present in abundance in the region.

H S Singh, an expert on big cats, said that the increase in leopard count in South Gujarat, particularly Bharuch, was because of the sugarcane fields in the region which are safe hideouts for the animals.