Leopard Population Surges in Jharkhand, Palamu Tiger Reserve Nears 100

• Jharkhand's leopard population is on the rise, with Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) showing signs of approximately 100 leopards.
• The 2023-24 Tiger Estimation data indicates a significant increase from the 36-50 leopards recorded in PTR in 2018 and 50 in 2023-24.
• Evidence from camera traps, pug marks, and local information confirms the growing leopard numbers.
• Leopard presence has also been noted in other Jharkhand areas like Godda, Jamshedpur, Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Chatra, and Kolhan.
• Despite the increase, human-leopard conflicts, including fatal attacks in Garhwa and Latehar, remain a concern.

Why It Matters: Jharkhand's leopard population is significantly increasing, especially in Palamu Tiger Reserve, but human-wildlife conflict persists.