The Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya), is an endangered, endemic subspecies, and the island’s only apex predator. The Sri Lankan leopard has been classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and is a leopard subspecies that is native to Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan leopards are carnivorous and feed on a variety of species such as hares, sambhurs, langurs, and rats. Habitat losses, hunting for trade, and fragmentation have become reasons for the Sri Lankan leopard to rapidly decline in numbers. With the “Felidae Carnivora Project” these important habitats will be identified, which are very crucial to the survival of Sri Lankan leopards.

Source: The Nation August 03, 2021 17:15 UTC