Time for ‘Project Leopard’

‘Project Tiger’ was launched by the Indian Government in 1973. The program came at a time when India’s tiger population was rapidly dwindling. While there were 40,000 tigers in the country at the time of the Independence, they were soon reduced to below 2,000 by 1970 due to widespread hunting and habitat destruction. Despite launching Project Tiger these numbers dropped to 1,400 by 2006. Yet, due to concerted efforts, the tiger population has since doubled to a little over 3,000 by 2022.

Project Tiger proves that conservation is not an easy task, especially of a large apex predator. It took India many years and numerous failures to get their conservation efforts right. Today, the tiger numbers are increasing gradually, and the imminent threat of extinction has been averted. On the economic front, Tiger tourism is raking in substantive benefits both to the Government and the stakeholders.

Two years ago the Government of Sri Lanka declared 1 August as ‘Leopard Day’. The initiative is meant to draw attention to the challenges in conservation and creating awareness about this important animal. At a time when there are disturbing reports of increasing casualties in the human-leopard conflict, this is a long overdue and welcome move. However, the recognition to draw attention towards conservation challenges to the Sri Lankan leopard should go beyond rhetoric, and focus on a concerted effort towards a sustainable management of the leopard population, its ecosystem and its unique genetic diversity. In fact, Sri Lanka needs a Project Leopard.

The leopard found in Sri Lanka is genetically unique. It is one of nine subspecies. Other than the Javan leopard, no other leopard is uniquely isolated on an island. This isolation, lack of any other predators such as lions and tigers, and abundant prey have made the Sri Lankan leopard one of the largest among the subspecies. Once found throughout the country, today the animals’ habitats are fragmented. Most of the leopards are found in the Dry Zone jungles while sizable populations exist in the wet zone highlands.

The research into these elusive animals have been limited, despite them having such an iconic position within Sri Lanka’s wildlife. The actual number of leopards in the country is at best a calculated guess, with the current number thought to be around 800. There has never been an islandwide census for leopards as done for elephants or for tigers in India.  

Tourism promotion authorities have for long years promoted wildlife tourism with the leopard as a primary attraction. This illusive animal is not easily observed in other habitats across the world where it is not the apex predator. Sri Lanka in that sense is unique and at an advantage. While tourism provides a necessary incentive towards conservation, it must be secondary to the wellbeing of the animal population and the conservation objectives. Overcrowding at national parks, the disturbances to the animals, harassment and even leopard deaths due to speeding vehicles inside natural spaces have been reported in recent years. A significant number of deaths have been reported in the hill areas due to traps. In 2022 at least 14 leopards were killed due to human activity in the central hills. 

The Government needs to put its money where its mouth is on leopard conservation. What is required is a concerted, well thought of program of action which prioritises conservation while ensuring the benefits of those efforts to all stakeholders. Project Tiger can be a useful template for this purpose. If action is not taken soon this iconic animal, unique to Sri Lanka as a subspecies may disappear from the face of the earth.