Eyes of wild: Wildlife Institute analyzing first-ever footage from camera-collared leopard in India

Researchers at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) are analyzing over 1,000 video clips recorded three months ago by a camera collar attached to a leopard in the Junnar region of Maharashtra.

According to Bilal Habib, the WII scientist leading the project, the video clips—each 30 seconds long—were retrieved after the leopard's camera was removed on April 10. Experts at WII are currently reviewing the footage.

Camera collars have long been used by scientists around the world to monitor and study wild animals.

However, according to a post on X by Habib, this is the first time in India that a camera collar has captured the world through the eyes of a wild leopard.

“Deployed as part of a research initiative, this groundbreaking footage offers an intimate glimpse into the life and landscape of one of India’s most elusive big cats. A remarkable step forward in blending science, technology, and conservation for deeper understanding and coexistence,” he said.

“We will now analyze the videos, which will give us a rare insight into the life of leopards in the Junnar region—a sugarcane belt in Maharashtra that has frequently reported incidents of human-leopard conflict. The video data will help us understand their movement patterns and behavior,” Habib added.

The Junnar region, located about 90 kilometers from Pune, has been a hotspot for human-leopard conflict.

Its vast sugarcane fields provide ideal hiding spots for leopards, while livestock kept near village homes offers easy prey. Between March and October last year, seven people lost their lives in leopard attacks.

The study is being conducted under a 2019 agreement between WII and the Maharashtra government.

As part of the initiative to study and mitigate rising human-leopard conflict in Junnar, 13 leopards have been radio-collared, and one has been fitted with a camera collar.

“Altogether, 14 leopards were identified—13 were radio-collared, while one was camera-collared,” Habib said.

A radio collar is a device with an antenna fastened around the animal’s neck, allowing researchers to track its movements and study its habitat and ecology.

In contrast, a video or camera collar has a small camera attached to it. While camera collars have gained popularity among pet owners in recent years, this marks the first time one has been used in a wildlife study in India.