Bhubaneswar, Oct 3: The recently released Leopard Census Report has revealed that Odisha is home to 696 leopards. Conducted independently by the Odisha Forest Department, this was the first-ever leopard census undertaken by the state.

According to a 2022 report by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), 568 leopards were found in Odisha that year, with the population previously rising to 760 in 2018. However, the Odisha Forest Department decided to conduct its own census to provide more accurate and reliable data.

For the census, 284 camera traps were strategically placed in various forest areas across the state. In addition to capturing photographs, the census relied on analyzing pugmarks and other tracking methods to estimate the leopard population.

The findings from this census will provide valuable insights into the status of leopards in Odisha and are expected to play a key role in guiding future conservation efforts aimed at protecting the state's leopard population.

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