Dependence of the leopardPanthera pardus fuscain Jaipur, India, on domestic animals

In the Jhalana Reserve Forest of Jaipur, India, leopards exhibit near-total dependence on domestic animals as prey, with dogs, cats, goats, and cattle making up 89.5% of their diet during the dry season (November 2017–April 2018). Analysis of 132 scat samples revealed that feral dogs were the most frequently consumed species (44%), followed by domestic cats (13%), goats (16%), and cattle (15%). While wild prey, such as rodents and small mammals, were present in their diet, their frequency was significantly lower. This study highlights how leopards in human-dominated landscapes can thrive on domestic animals, potentially providing an ecosystem service by controlling feral dog populations, though this also exposes them to risks like canine distemper virus. The findings underscore the adaptability of leopards and the need for conservation strategies that account for their reliance on domestic prey.

Kumbhojkar, S., Yosef, R., Kosicki, J. Z., Kwiatkowska, P. K., & Tryjanowski, P. (2020). Dependence of the leopardPanthera pardus fuscain Jaipur, India, on domestic animals. Oryx, 55(5), 692–698. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605319001145