Jaipur forests record 62 leopards across protected landscapes

Jaipur: The forest department’s Wildlife Estimation 2026 recorded 62 leopards across Jaipur’s major protected forest areas, highlighting the expanding urban wildlife network around the city and the growing need for corridor protection and scientific monitoring. According to the assessment, conducted through waterhole monitoring and field surveys, Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary reported the highest leopard presence with 27 leopards. The sanctuary also recorded 27 jackals, 12 desert foxes, 160 nilgai, 183 langurs and 26 sambhar, indicating a healthy predator and herbivore population. Jhalana Leopard Reserve recorded 17 leopards, including 12 males, four females and one unidentified leopard. The reserve also reported 22 hyenas, 81 nilgai and 17 sambhar. Only three chital were recorded during the exercise, while no langurs were observed. Forest officials said the actual leopard population in Jhalana is likely higher as not all animals visit water points during the survey. Officials noted that three cubs of a leopardess were not recorded during the estimation. Amagarh Leopard Reserve recorded 10 leopards, including six males, one cub and three unidentified leopards. The reserve also reported 21 hyenas, eight desert foxes, 40 nilgai, 12 sambhar, 29 langurs and 19 porcupines. Officials said the presence of a cub confirmed active breeding within the reserve. Nahargarh Biological Park recorded eight leopards along with significant populations of hyenas, jackals and herbivores. Wildlife experts said, “The report highlights that Jaipur’s forests now support a significant predator network spread across interconnected urban landscapes. The increasing presence of leopards and hyenas near expanding urban areas has made corridor protection, scientific monitoring and prey base management increasingly important.”