Indian leopard

Indian Leopard
File:Leopard on tree stump2.jpg
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Felidae
Genus:	Panthera
Species:	P. pardus
Subspecies:	P. p. fusca
Trinomial name
Panthera pardus fusca

The Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is a leopard subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent.

Habitat and Range

The Indian leopard is one of the most successful members of the big cats found in India. The animal is distributed throughout the subcontinent, including in the border nations of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and southern China. Habitat varies from dry deciduous forests, desert ecosystems, tropical rainforests, northern coniferous forests, to near human habitation.

Threats

Despite being the most widespread cat, the Indian leopard faces several types of threat. The animal shares its habitat with other animals, which include Asiatic lions, Bengal tigers, bears, wolves,asian elephants, hyenas, and wild dogs. These animals may kill leopard cubs if given a chance. In addition, lions and tigers may even attack a full-grown leopard. Apart from its natural enemies, the leopard's main threat is people. For years, it has been threatened, due to loss of habitat and poaching. In some parts of India, the animal thrives alongside human populations. There, it may find domestic livestock to make for easy prey, resulting in a man-leopard conflict. These conflicts have increased in recent years due to population growth among humans and, in some areas, leopards. To avoid such problems, India's Forest Department regularly sets up traps in potential conflict areas. After capturing the animal, they release it in an appropriate habitat, away from human development.

External links

• HUMAN - LEOPARD CONFLICT MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES, VIDYA ATHREYA & ANIRUDDHA BELSARE, 2007, MAHARASHTRA STATE FORESTDEPARTMENT, INDIA (Pdf Document), This booklet or any part of it may be freely reproduced but has to be acknowledged as ‘from Athreya & Belsare 2007’