Leopard activity patterns in a small montane protected area highlight the need for integrated, collaborative landscape conservation

Leopard activity patterns in Horton Plains National Park (HPNP), Sri Lanka, reveal that while females remain loyal to the park's grasslands, males frequently venture outside its boundaries. Camera trapping studies from 2017 and 2018 estimated leopard densities at 10.6 per 100 km² and 15.1 per 100 km², respectively, indicating that HPNP alone cannot sustain these populations without contributions from surrounding landscapes. The research underscores the need for integrated, collaborative conservation efforts to address habitat fragmentation and jurisdictional complexities, ensuring long-term survival of leopards in this montane ecosystem.

Webb, E. L., Choo, Y. R., Kudavidanage, E. P., Amarasinghe, T. R., Sumith Indika Bandara, U. G., Charitha Lakmali Wanninayaka, W. A., Ravindrakumar, P., Nimalrathna, T. S., Liang, S. H., & Hwee Chua, M. A. (2020). Leopard activity patterns in a small montane protected area highlight the need for integrated, collaborative landscape conservation. Global Ecology and Conservation, 23, e01182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01182