From fragmented forests to leopard strongholds: Indore sees 51% expansion
TINA KHATRI
Leopards are leading charge in Indore forests. In an eight-year transformation, leopard occupancy expanded by 51%, while tigers reclaimed 21 beats—showing coexistence between apex predators and humans is possible.
In 2018, Indore Forest Division had no tiger signs, and leopards were confined to fragmented habitats. By 2026, leopards spread across nearly every suitable habitat, creating a functioning multi-carnivore ecosystem without endangering local communities.
Pradeep Mishra, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer, Indore, explained:
“By 2018, Indore was below ecological threshold for tigers. Leopards survived, tigers could not. Eight years of habitat restoration, connectivity planning, and community engagement changed that. Tigers returned, and people became part of system, not obstacles.”
Day-wise leopard and tiger presence
Monitoring data from forest beats shows how leopard expansion outpaced tigers, day by day:
| Range | Day 1 Leopard | Day 2 Leopard | Day 3 Leopard | Total Leopard | Avg/day Leopard | Day 1 Tiger | Day 2 Tiger | Day 3 Tiger | Total Tiger | Avg/day Tiger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choral | 18 | 13 | 6 | 37 | 12.3 | 33 | 33 | 28 | 94 | 31.3 |
| Indore | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1.7 | 26 | 15 | 14 | 55 | 18.3 |
| Mhow | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 2.3 | 20 | 15 | 9 | 44 | 14.7 |
| Manpur | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.7 | 23 | 10 | 12 | 45 | 15.0 |
| Ralamandal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Total | 21 | 18 | 12 | 51 | 17 | 103 | 74 | 64 | 241 | 80.3 |
Range-wise leopard recovery
- Choral range: Strong leopard presence in 2018 persisted, supporting tiger colonization from 2022 onward.
- Mhow and Indore ranges: Leopard occupancy remained stable across human-influenced areas, allowing tigers to appear and persist.
- Manpur range: Leopards dominated, providing connectivity corridor for tigers rather than serving as main breeding area.
“Range-wise pattern mirrors phased implementation of coexistence model,” Mishra said. “Choral stabilized early, Mhow and Indore adapted gradually, and Manpur functions as corridor—showing deliberate planning works.”
How leopards and tigers reclaimed forest
- Habitat interventions: Assisted natural regeneration, targeted afforestation, and water augmentation improved prey and cover.
- Community safeguards: Time-bound compensation for livestock and crop damage reduced retaliatory risks.
- Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs): Strengthened reporting, vigilance, and local stewardship.
- Patrolling and protection: Intelligence-led enforcement minimized poaching and hunting incidents.
“Many think tigers belong only in reserves. Indore shows they can return outside protected areas if governance and community engagement are right,” Mishra said.
Leopards set pace for predator comeback
- Leopards expanded range across 74 beats, averaging 17 sightings per day, showing resilience and dominance.
- Tigers returned more slowly, occupying 21 beats with signs stabilizing over time.
- Together, they now form multi-carnivore ecosystem, proving apex predators can thrive even in human-dominated landscapes when habitat restoration and community engagement align.