Human‐Caused Leopard Deaths in Sri Lanka Are Concentrated in Central Highlands' Estate Mosaics: Evidence From 17 Years of Mortality Records

A significant increase in human-caused leopard deaths in Sri Lanka has been documented over 17 years, with mortality rates rising and clustering heavily in the Central Highlands' plantation landscapes. The study, analyzing 164 recorded deaths (2008–2024), revealed a male bias (68.4%) and adult dominance (87.3%), with snares being the leading cause (62.3%). Nuwara Eliya district alone accounted for 38.4% of cases, despite covering only 4.4% of Sri Lanka's leopard range. The research highlights critical hotspots and calls for targeted mitigation efforts, particularly in highland plantations, to combat snare-related threats.

Weerakkody, S., Gunasekara, V., Muhandiram, S., Harapan, T. S., Gunasekara, K. R., Jayasena, B., Wilson, J. B., Amugoda, P. M., de Silva, T., Hathurusinghe, C. D., Campos‐Arceiz, A., & Kudavidanage, E. P. (2026). Human‐Caused Leopard Deaths in Sri Lanka Are Concentrated in Central Highlands’ Estate Mosaics: Evidence From 17 Years of Mortality Records. Wildlife Letters, 4(3), 107–117. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/wll2.70040