Bengaluru, which is frequently hailed as India’s innovation centre, has gained a new moniker: leopard capital. Bengaluru is now India’s leopard capital and is home to an estimated 80–85 leopards, exceeding Mumbai’s recorded population of about 54, according to a year-long camera-trap survey by the Holématthi Nature Foundation (HNF). Announced on June 5, 2025, this vital discovery highlights Bengaluru’s exceptional status as an urban area that sustains a flourishing population of large cats that roam freely. Under the direction of conservation biologist Sanjay Gubbi, the assessment demonstrates the leopards’ adaptability and the pressing need to save their dwindling habitats in the face of fast urbanisation. Bengaluru’s biodiversity, including 54 leopards in Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) alone, is evidence of conservation efforts and intercommunal harmony; however, problems still arise as the city expands, and issues still occur.

A Milestone Survey Reveals Bengaluru’s Leopard Boom

Over 250 camera traps were set up during the HNF’s extensive survey in 282 square kilometres of mixed habitat, which included nearby public and private lands as well as locations like Turahalli, Turahalli Gudda, B.M. Kaval, U.M. Kaval, Roerich Estate, Gollahalli Gudda, Sulikere, Hesaraghatta, Marasandra, Manduru, and BNP. The findings were remarkable: of the 80–85 leopards recorded, 54 lived in BNP, and about 30 roamed the private, public, and restricted forests on the city’s outskirts. With more leopards than Mumbai, 54 in and around Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Bengaluru is now India’s leopard capital. Now, it has more big cats roaming freely than any other Indian city. With careful effort, the survey team, which included Gubbi, Shravan Suthar, Sandesh Appu Naik, Poornesha H C, Mayur Mirashi, Aishwarya Karanth, and local field assistants, captured this data, offering a solid foundation for upcoming conservation initiatives.

From 40 in 2019 to 47 in 2020 and 54 in 2025, the leopard population in BNP has steadily increased. The leading cause of this increase, according to HNF, is tighter regulations that have increased the availability of prey, such as deer and other small mammals, which are essential for leopard survival. However, the group also points out that the population boom might have been influenced by conflict leopards moving into BNP from other districts in the past. Although this rise is a triumph for conservation, it calls into question the long-term viability of such methods because translocations can potentially worsen human-wildlife conflict and disturb local ecosystems.

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Bengaluru’s Unique Biodiversity Amid Urban Growth

The only major Indian city whose outskirts still harbour a wide variety of giant creatures, such as tigers, leopards, dholes, elephants, gaurs, and sambar, is Bengaluru. In addition to leopards, the HNF survey photographed 34 animal species, four of which were included on the IUCN Red List as Endangered and four as Near Threatened. The importance of protecting Bengaluru’s natural habitats on a national and international level is further highlighted by the fact that 22 species are listed under Schedule I and five under Schedule II of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. Given the city’s rapidly growing population and the expansion of its suburbs into forested areas, this biodiversity is an uncommon achievement.

The local populations, who have adapted to coexisting with leopards and other animals, deserve praise for allowing such biodiversity to survive in a busy metropolis. But this equilibrium is precarious. Forest patches are becoming increasingly fragmented as Bengaluru’s urban footprint expands, resulting in habitat loss and increased interactions between people and wildlife. Although research indicates that leopard assaults on people are typically non-predatory and cause only minor injuries, leopards in places like Turahalli near major roadways have occasionally caused communities to become concerned. Maintaining this coexistence while guaranteeing the security of both people and wildlife is a complex undertaking that calls for meticulous preparation and community involvement.

Conservation Challenges and Recommendations

The HNF report highlights several issues threatening Bengaluru’s leopard population, notwithstanding the encouraging results. The main problem is habitat loss brought on by urbanisation, which reduces the area accessible to animals, including leopards. According to the survey, South Bengaluru has many leopards, especially in the vicinity of untouched forest sections. However, development projects are putting pressure on these places. Growing public anxiety is reflected in posts on X, where users call on the state government to prioritise protecting wildlife and cease granting forest areas for cultivation. The conflict between conservation and growth in a city that is expanding quickly is highlighted by this sentiment.

HNF has put forth several suggestions to deal with these issues. One important recommendation is to step up community engagement initiatives to teach Bengaluru’s growing suburbs how to live safely with leopards. This entails spreading knowledge about leopard behaviour and implementing policies to lessen confrontation, such as safeguarding livestock. Because habitat encroachment and prey scarcity at source sites are two significant factors contributing to human-leopard conflict, the foundation strongly recommends stopping additional leopard translocations into BNP. HNF promotes addressing these problems head-on so that leopards can flourish in their natural habitats without relocating.

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The Path Forward for Bengaluru’s Leopards

Although Bengaluru is now India’s leopard capital, it is an incredible accomplishment and carries a great deal of responsibility. For leopards and other wildlife to continue to have a home in the urban development, the city must balance its expansion and preserve its distinctive biodiversity. The HNF survey is a vital place to start since it offers information that can direct conservation initiatives and policy choices. However, cooperation between local communities, conservation groups, and governmental entities will be necessary for these initiatives to be successful.

Creating more conservation reserves in regions like B.M. Kaval and U.M. Kaval, as recommended by HNF, could be a positive step in preserving important leopard habitats.

Human-wildlife conflict may also be lessened by using technology, such as AI cameras and solar-powered fencing, as in other places like Pune. Other Indian cities can learn from Bengaluru’s experience, which shows that urban areas and wildlife can coexist with the correct approaches. Its capacity to protect its leopards as the city expands will indicate the strength of group efforts when confronted with environmental difficulties.

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