INDIAN LEOPARD

IUCN RED LIST

●The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a global authority on environmental and conservation issues, working towards sustainable development through the protection of nature and biodiversity.

●It was established in 1964, its key purpose is to assess and document the conservation status and extinction risk of biological species worldwide.

●The IUCN Red List is a critical global resource used to assess the risk of extinction for animals, fungi, and plant species.

Goals of the IUCN Red List

●Scientific Assessment: The Red List provides scientifically based information on the status of species and subspecies globally. It categorizes species into different levels of extinction risk based on rigorous criteria developed by the IUCN.

●Highlighting Threatened Biodiversity: One of its primary goals is to draw attention to the extent and significance of threatened biodiversity. By identifying species at risk, it emphasizes the urgency of conservation efforts.

●Influencing Policy: The Red List aims to influence national and international policies and decision-making processes. It provides governments, conservation organizations, and other stakeholders with essential data to inform conservation strategies and laws.

●Guiding Conservation Actions: By identifying species in need of conservation action, the Red List helps guide efforts to conserve biological diversity. It serves as a roadmap for prioritizing species and habitats for protection and management.

●Collaboration and Expertise: The assessments on the Red List are conducted by a network of species experts, conservation organizations, and scientific institutions. Major contributors include BirdLife International, the Institute of Zoology, and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, among others. These groups contribute to the assessment and monitoring of species across various taxonomic groups and geographic regions.

●Growing Database: Over time, the Red List has expanded significantly. As of recent years, it has assessed over 150,000 species worldwide, with approximately 42,000 species identified as being at risk of extinction due to human activities such as overfishing, hunting, habitat destruction, and climate change.

IUCN Publications and Commissions

●Publications: IUCN produces various publications that include scientific assessments, reports, guidelines, and policy documents aimed at promoting conservation and sustainable development practices worldwide.

●Commissions: IUCN operates several specialist commissions that focus on different aspects of conservation, such as Species Survival Commission (SSC), World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), and Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy (CEESP). These commissions bring together experts to provide scientific knowledge and policy advice.

IUCN Funding and Initiatives

1. Funding: IUCN receives funding from various sources, including member contributions, grants, donations, and partnerships with governments, NGOs, and private sector entities. This funding supports its conservation projects, research, and advocacy efforts worldwide.
2. Initiatives:

○Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas: The initiative identifies and recognizes effectively managed protected areas worldwide based on specific criteria for conservation success.

○Nature 2030 Programme: A strategic initiative aimed at aligning conservation efforts with global sustainable development goals for 2030, focusing on biodiversity conservation, climate action, and community engagement.

Criticisms and Challenges

●Yellowstone Model Support: Criticized for promoting a conservation model based on Western perspectives and approaches, which may not always align with or address the needs and rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.

●Concerns of Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous communities often criticize IUCN for not adequately respecting their traditional knowledge, land rights, and sovereignty in conservation efforts, which can lead to conflicts and marginalization.

●Global Conservation Perspective: Some critics argue that IUCN’s approach to conservation is influenced heavily by Western-European viewpoints, potentially neglecting diverse cultural and ecological perspectives from other regions of the world.

Way Ahead

●Inclusive Conservation Practices: IUCN is increasingly emphasizing the importance of inclusive and equitable conservation practices that respect indigenous knowledge, rights, and cultural diversity.

●Enhanced Partnerships: Strengthening partnerships with indigenous groups, local communities, and diverse stakeholders to ensure that conservation efforts are more participatory, locally relevant, and sustainable.

●Adaptation and Innovation: Continuously adapting conservation strategies to address emerging challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and socio-economic disparities, while promoting innovation in conservation science and policy.

Key Points About Leopard

●The leopard, scientifically known as Panthera pardus, is a large cat closely related to the lion, tiger, and jaguar.

●Leopards vary greatly in size and markings, with an average weight of 50 to 90 kg and a length of 210 cm, excluding the tail.

●They are mainly yellowish above and white below, with dark spots in rosettes without a central spot like the jaguar.

●They are solitary animals found in bush and forests, mainly nocturnal but can occasionally be seen during the day.

●They prey on a variety of animals, from small rodents to antelopes, deer, and even dogs and baboons in Africa. They are excellent climbers and often store their kills in tree branches.

●Breeding in leopards is not seasonal, with females giving birth to two to four cubs after a gestation period of about three months.

●The Black Panther, with a black ground colour and spots, is more common in Asia. Some subspecies of leopards, such as the Barbary, South Arabian, Anatolian, Amur, and Sinai leopards.

●They are known for their adaptability, hunting skills, and distinctive markings, making them a unique and important part of the ecosystem.

General Decline

●Across most of their range, leopards have declined substantially (more than 30%) over the last three generations.

●Significant range declines have been recorded in the Middle East, East and Southeast Asia, West, and parts of Central and East Africa.

●The causes of this decline include habitat fragmentation, forest clearing, prey reductions due to the bushmeat trade, illegal harvest for skins, and human-wildlife conflict.

Disappearance in North Africa

●Leopards have completely vanished from North Africa.

Subspecies Status

●Critically Endangered: Indochinese leopard (Panthera pardus delacouri), Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr), and North China leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis).

●Endangered: Persian leopard (Panthera pardus tulliana) and Javan leopard (Panthera pardus melas).

●Vulnerable: African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) and Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya).

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements in the context of the leopard:

1. The leopard is a large cat closely related to the lion, tiger, and jaguar.

2. They are solitary animals found in bush and forests, mainly nocturnal but can occasionally be seen during the day.

3. They are excellent climbers and often store their kills in tree branches.

4. Breeding in leopards is seasonal, with females giving birth to cubs after a gestation period of about three months.

How many of the above statements are correct?

A) Only one

B) Only two

C) Only three

D) All four

Answer: C