There are an estimated 13,874 leopards in India, up from 12,852 in 2018.
Central India and Eastern Ghats has the highest population of leopards (8,820), followed by the Western Ghats (3,596), and the Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains (1,109).
Statewise, Madhya Pradesh boasts of the largest population of leopards (3,907).
It is followed by Maharashtra (1,985), Karnataka (1,879) and Tamil Nadu (1,070).
In Odisha, the number of leopards dropped from 760 in 2018 to 562 in 2022, and in Uttarakhand, the population declined from 839 in 2018 to 652 in 2022.
Kerala, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Goa too reported the population declines.