The Odisha Government has launched a leopard enumeration operation to ascertain the exact population of the big cats in the State.

According to official sources, the All-Odisha leopard estimation is being conducted in 51 forest divisions across the State using trap camera technique as an indirect sighting method. As many as 3,312 trap cameras are being put to use for the purpose.

The trap camera images of leopards obtained during the Tiger Estimation Exercise, held between September 15 and January 31, are being used as reference for this operation.

Close monitoring for leopards would be carried out in tiger reserves where a pair of trap camera would be used in every 2km X 2km grid, while in other areas including wildlife sanctuaries five pairs of trap cameras would be installed in every 25 square km, an official said.

Camera traps have already been distributed for the enumeration in the Similipal Tiger Reserve.

The State Government decided to conduct its own leopard census in March after the Status of Leopard in India 2022 report pointed out that leopard population in Odisha has recorded a ‘significant’ decline. As per the report, the total number of leopards in the State in 2022 stood at 568, around 192 less than the previous count of 760 in 2018.

Apart from the leopard count, the State Government would conduct an elephant census from May 22 to 24 after a gap of seven years. The All-Odisha Elephant Estimation 2024 would be held in 43 divisions using direct count method.