Leopards Exhibit Nuanced Predation Patterns but Rely on Wild Prey in a Human‐Dominated Agricultural Landscape in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka

Leopards in Sri Lanka's Central Highlands, despite being generalist and opportunistic predators, show nuanced predation patterns that favor wild prey over domestic species, even in heavily agricultural landscapes. A study analyzing 107 leopard scat samples revealed that while small prey like the black-naped hare were most frequently consumed, medium-sized barking deer and large sambar deer contributed significantly to biomass intake, indicating selective foraging behavior. Domestic dogs, contrary to local perceptions, were moderately avoided, suggesting a positive outcome for human-leopard coexistence. Wild species constituted over 85% of the diet, highlighting the resilience of natural prey bases in anthropogenically transformed environments. The research underscores the importance of preserving wild prey abundance and diversity to facilitate coexistence between leopards and humans.

Kumara, P. H. S. C., Kittle, A. M., Watson, A. C., Perera, S. J., Sanjeewani, N., & Fernando, S. P. (2026). Leopards Exhibit Nuanced Predation Patterns but Rely on Wild Prey in a Human‐Dominated Agricultural Landscape in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka. Ecology and Evolution, 16(2). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.73027