Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

URBAN LEOPARDS OF NATIONAL CAPITAL: ESTIMATING DENSITY AND OCCUPANCY OF LEOPARD (PANTHERA PARDUS) IN ASOLA BHATTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, NEW DELHI, INDIA

Priyanka Chaudhary, Alok Kumar, Sohail Madan, Mandeep Mittal and Sumit Dookia

Abstract

Studies, in recent past have revealed that obligate carnivores are adapting to human dominated landscapes. Leopards, amongst other large carnivores are highly adaptable and can survive in a range of environments. Although any sporadic sightings of leopards have occurred in New Delhi. However, any reliable population and occupancy estimation was lacking from the region, whereas understanding of population density estimation is important in providing local and regional level conservation and management of the species. Our study is conducted to better understand leopard status and population density estimation in Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary of New Delhi. During 588 camera trap nights, we detected 8 individual leopards. Based on spatial capture-recapture framework the leopard density inside the sanctuary was estimated at 4.5 ± 0.019 leopards/100km² despite very high anthropogenic pressure. Occupancy modelling based on Inverse Distance Weighted Interpolation showed species distribution across the sanctuary which was highest in the areas adjoining densely populated region of the city from where it was observed that large number of vehicle and people cross the sanctuary daily to for their work. The moderate leopard density in this small protected area with high human population pressure can be due to the absence of any other large carnivore, less competition with co-predators because of their low numbers (i.e., hyenas), high availability of prey base and inclusive protected area management. We encourage further research to explore the landscape connectivity between the neighboring suitable leopard habitats like Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, via Aravalli hill range of South Haryana till Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary of New Delhi for understanding wildlife corridor connectivity in the Northern Aravalli Range at landscape level.