Green Minute News:
A year-long camera-trap survey by Holématthi Nature Foundation (HNF) reveals rising leopard population in Bengaluru.
The rising numbers of spotted big cats brings three cheers to the conservation efforts by Karnataka Forest Department, due to prey availability, translocation of leopards to Bannerghatta and other reasons. The above image is of two leopards which were camera trapped in Turahalligudda Minor Forests.
The above image is of a male leopard that was camera trapped in Sulikere Reserve Forest which falls in Sulikere village, Kengeri hobli of Bengaluru south.
The research study was led by conservation biologist Dr Sanjay Gubbi which has revealed that the forests and scrublands fringing Bengaluru are home to an estimated 80-85 wild leopards, including 54 individuals inside Bannerghatta National Park (BNP).
The remaining 30 leopards roam reserved, deemed and private forests scattered across the metropolitan periphery of Bengaluru.
The year-long research study was conducted by deploying more than 250 camera traps across 282 square kilometres.
The team carried out studies in a mixed habitat – Turahalli, Turahalli Gudda, B M Kaval, U M Kaval, Roerich Estate, Gollahalli Gudda, Sulikere, Hesaraghatta, Marasandra, Manduru and adjoining government and private lands as well as throughout the Bannerghatta National Park.
A BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT
Besides leopards, 34 mammal species were photo-captured, four of them Endangered and four Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
- 22 species fall under Schedule I and five under Schedule II of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, thereby, underscoring the national and global importance of safeguarding Bengaluru’s remaining natural habitat.
(However, Bats and small rodents were outside the study scope.)
OVERTAKING MEGACITY MUMBAI’S RECORD
With a population of 85 leopards, Bengaluru now surpasses Mumbai’s documented population of 54 leopards and becomes the large metropolis with the highest known number of free-ranging big cats.
Further, Bengaluru is also the only metro whose fringes still support an ensemble of tigers, leopards, dholes, elephants, gaur, sambar and other large mammals. The credit also goes to people who are co-existing with leopards and other large wildlife.
RISING NUMBERS IN BANNERGHATTA NATIONAL PARK
The above picture shows the image of a camera trapped spotted big cat. Leopard abundance inside Bannerghatta NP has climbed steadily from 40 in 2019, 47 in 2020 to 54 in 2025.
The Holematti Nature Foundation attributes the increase primarily to stricter protection that has improved prey availability, though the past translocation of conflict leopards from other districts may also have contributed.
RESEARCH STUDY TEAM
Dr Sanjay Gubbi was joined by Shravan Suthar, Sandesh Appu Naik, Poornesha H C, Mayur Mirashi, Aishwarya Karanth and field assistants from local communities.
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE HNF:
- Notify B M Kaval, U M Kaval, Roerich Estate and Gollahalli Gudda as a Conservation Reserve – a long-term “lung space” for Bengaluru that also secures groundwater recharge and wildlife habitat.
- Add Durgadakal RF, Bettahalliwade RF (Block B) and the deemed forests of J I Bachahalli and M Maniyambal to Bannerghatta NP where camera traps even revealed presence of tigers.
- Safeguard the Muneshwarabetta–Bannerghatta wildlife corridor through appropriate conservation and protection measures.
- Intensify community outreach programs so that Bengaluru’s rapidly expanding suburbs & population can coexist safely with leopards.
- Halt further translocation of leopards into BNP; instead, address root causes of human-leopard conflict at the source sites itself.