Haryana aravallis: study to find scope of human-leopard coexistence in the region

Abstract

This study evaluates prospects for human-leopard coexistence in the southern Haryana Aravallis—a 200 km² biodiversity hotspot spanning Delhi, Gurugram, and Faridabad. Amid threats from mining, urbanization, infrastructure, and habitat fragmentation, the study employs occupancy surveys across 81 grids (133 km² surveyed over 47 days) and camera traps (1,577 trap-nights yielding 349 captures). Leopards (Panthera pardus) were detected in 67 grids (naive occupancy: 0.855; 619 signs at 2.29/km), with high co-occurrence alongside striped hyenas in 57 grids. Nineteen mammal species were documented, including novel records of rusty-spotted cat and sambar deer. Social surveys with 155 respondents across Mangar, Dhauj, Damdama, and Kherla villages revealed nuanced perceptions: forest-dependent herders showed tolerance toward livestock predation, rooted in cultural and religious beliefs, while non-forest users expressed fears of attacks despite no human fatalities in over a decade. Community interventions—eco-clubs, citizen science walks, pond restoration, compensation advocacy, and policy engagement—earned awards and prompted measures like assisted natural regeneration. Findings advocate education, wildlife corridors, and streamlined compensation to sustain coexistence amid escalating development pressures.