Abundance and density estimates for common leopard Panthera pardus and clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa in Manas National Park, Assam, India

A groundbreaking study provides the first reliable abundance and density estimates for common leopards (Panthera pardus) and clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa) in Manas National Park, India. Using camera traps and capture-recapture analysis over 57 days, researchers identified 27 common leopards and 16 clouded leopards, yielding abundance estimates of 47.0 and 35.6 for the former, and 21.0 and 25.0 for the latter, depending on the model used. Density estimates were calculated as 3.4 ± SE 0.82 per 100 km² for common leopards and 4.73 ± SE 1.43 per 100 km² for clouded leopards, with spatially-explicit capture-recapture methods proving more accurate than conventional approaches. The study highlights the efficacy of camera trapping in monitoring elusive carnivores and establishes a baseline for long-term conservation efforts in Manas National Park.

Borah, J., Sharma, T., Das, D., Rabha, N., Kakati, N., Basumatary, A., Ahmed, M. F., & Vattakaven, J. (2013). Abundance and density estimates for common leopard Panthera pardus and clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa in Manas National Park, Assam, India. Oryx, 48(1), 149–155. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605312000373