Leopards Roaming Freely in Neighborhoods in India

According to a new study, a certain species of leopards found in Western India has got so accustomed to living with people that its presence often goes undetected. Researchers found the big cat roaming near homes at night. The region has a surprisingly low number of animal attacks, despite having a high population of carnivorous animals.

The study was conducted by a team of researchers led by Vidya Athreaya, a scientist from Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) India.

At least five adult carnivorous including leopards and hyenas were found per 38 square miles or about 100 square kilometers, researchers reported. This is the first time that such a high density of carnivores has been found in a human-dominated area.

The study was conducted in the western state of Maharashtra. Researchers used camera traps for the study and found that animals like rusty spotted cat, small Indian civet, Indian fox, jungle cat, jackal, and mongoose roamed near peoples' houses at night. Despite the close proximity of animals and humans, very few cases of attacks were reported from the region.

"Human attacks by leopards were rare despite a potentially volatile situation considering that the leopard has been involved in serious conflict, including human deaths in adjoining areas. The results of our work push the frontiers of our understanding of the adaptability of both humans and wildlife to each other's presence," said  Ullas Karanth, Wildlife Conservation Society and Centre for Wildlife Studies in Bangalore and expert of big cats, according to a statement by the organization.

Researchers say that the study supports the idea that conservationists should start thinking outside of protected areas and exploring ways to conserve species in a variety of landscapes.

The study is published in the journal PLOS One.