The detailed estimation report ‘Status of leopards in India-2018’ was released on 21st December 2020 by the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi. India now has 12,852 leopards as compared to the previous estimate of 7910 conducted in 2014. More than 60% increase in population has been recorded. As per the report, the states of Madhya Pradesh (3421), Karnataka (1783), and Maharashtra (1690) have recorded the highest leopards estimates in the country.

It is pertinent to mention that leopards are among the most adaptable carnivores, and are known to exist very close to human habitations. A study in 2020 had found four distinct sub-populations of leopards in India with high genetic variations - leopards of the Western Ghats, the Deccan Plateau semi-arid region, the Shivalik mountains, and the Terai region in North India

Indian Leopards are predators who remain invisible at night and mostly stay on trees. They usually come down from trees to hunt during the day and are more likely to take their hunt up trees. Rather than the speed with powerful jaws, they are good climbers and hunters of strength to kill medium-sized herbivores like Chital, Sambar, langur species, Spotted Deer, Nilai, Wild Pig, cattle, hare, dog, and porcupine. They are found in various kinds of forested habitats including rainforest, dry deciduous forest, among others.

It is estimated that between 12 to 14 thousand leopards find in India. And, 7910 leopards were estimated to live in and around tiger habitat in 2015 in India. However, owing to poaching and illegal wildlife trade the leopard population has been severely impacted. There were more than 3000 leopards poached in our country between 1994 and 2010