• Dr. Jeannine McManus’s perspectives on protecting Sri Lanka’s leopards

Today marks the fourth annual Sri Lanka Leopard Day – the day was first commemorated following a proposal made by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) in 2021 based off of a research paper by conservationist and leopard researcher Dr. Sriyanie Miththapala which showed that the Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) is a unique subspecies of leopard endemic to our little island.

As the island’s only large predator and a keystone species (a species that significantly shapes its environment and influences many other species within its community), the leopard plays a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of Sri Lanka’s diverse ecosystems. However, the Sri Lankan leopard is classified as endangered, with an estimated population of less than 800 mature individuals remaining in the wild. Habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching are some of the biggest threats that face the Lankan leopard.

Marking Sri Lanka Leopard Day, The Daily Morning Brunch sat down with Landmark Foundation Leopard and Predator Conservation Project Acting Director Dr. Jeannine Stephanie McManus, a global expert in human-wildlife conflict mitigation, for some outside perspective on fostering human-leopard coexistence in Sri Lanka.

Dr. McManus has spearheaded initiatives to create wildlife-friendly landscapes and reduce conflicts between humans and carnivores. Her work with the Landmark Foundation includes collaborating with planters and livestock farmers to promote human-leopard coexistence. To date, the Landmark Foundation has collared and monitored 73 leopards, working closely with farming communities to minimise conflict.

While the leopard is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular creatures, globally, despite being one of the iconic Big Five animals in the African context (the Big Five being lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros, and buffalo), they often receive less attention compared to elephants and rhinos due to their elusive nature. “Leopards are secretive; hard to see and spot. This is one of the things that makes them interesting, but because of this they can also get less attention,” Dr. McManus shared, adding that this elusiveness can also serve to make studying and conserving them more of a challenge.

Threats to leopards

Dr. McManus’s work encompasses rescue and rehabilitation, research, environmental education, advocacy, and promoting wildlife-friendly farming practices. She directs efforts to rescue leopards in conflict zones and works closely with farming communities to minimise human-wildlife conflict. Human-leopard conflict is a significant challenge in South Africa and the Landmark Foundation focuses on conflict zones outside protected areas, where leopards venture into farming zones and face threats.

Efforts to mitigate these conflicts include non-lethal deterrents such as collars, guarding animals, and creating buffer zones to soften the edges between human and leopard habitats. “We support farmers using wildlife-friendly practices, promoting a fuller, more realistic conservation. In South Africa, there’s less tolerance for leopards, despite wildlife being as commercialised and commoditised as it is.”

What poses the biggest threat to leopards as well as so many other species is what Dr. McManus calls the global biodiversity crisis – the impact of rapidly expanding human populations and the associated need for more and more resources to sustain humanity at the expense of biodiversity habitats and species. With the global population expected to double in the next century, there is an urgent need for behaviour change to protect natural resources and ecosystems. “Biodiversity is being lost at a massive level globally. We are extracting a lot more than what is available. The threats are global, and South Africa and Sri Lanka share many of the same issues,” Dr. McManus stressed.

Local context

From a purely leopard perspective though, comparing Sri Lanka and South Africa, Dr. McManus noted that Sri Lanka has significantly higher leopard density, up to 20 times more per square kilometre. However, increasing threats from habitat fragmentation and human encroachment pose serious risks. One suggestion Dr. McManus made for better conserving the Lankan leopard is better leveraging technology like collaring and camera traps, to create evidence-based management plans.

Dr. McManus also warned that tourism, while a potential boon for conservation, must be managed carefully to avoid altering animal behaviour. Dr. McManus advocated for designated tourism and conservation zones to balance human presence and wildlife needs. “Tourism can alter animal behaviour. Ways to mitigate that include having clearly separate tourism zones and conservation zones,” she explained. Guidelines for tourists to respect wildlife and minimise their impact include staying quiet, keeping their distance, and driving responsibly, which are essential for sustainable wildlife tourism.

“Tourism also serves to help communities around leopards to build a closer rapport with these animals because they see the direct benefits of that tourism, but it is important to balance this with protecting the leopard,” Dr. McManus said, adding: “One of the more striking things to me about Sri Lanka is the cultural tolerance and appreciation people have for the leopard. It is very encouraging and admirable how the country has leveraged conservation of the leopard.”