In Praise of the Sri Lankan Leopard

There is no doubt that the leopard has become a popular wildlife attraction in Sri Lanka. Its relatively high abundance in certain areas of the country, with easy accessibility and spotting has thrust it into the limelight of wildlife interest the world over.

However at the same time, all’s not going too well for the celebrity feline in the wild. There is an alarming increase in leopard-human conflicts in the last five years, affecting the survival of this iconic species within and outside protected areas. The leopard is listed in the threatened category in the National Red List (2012) due to the ongoing challenges the animal faces because of conflict with humans and loss of suitable habitat.

To read full story visit: https://www.ft.lk/columns/In-praise-of-the-Sri-Lanka-leopard/4-738125