India, March 18 -- At least 34 leopards are living in Guwahati, a new camera-trap study by the Assam Forest Department has found, highlighting the city as a key habitat for big cats.

The study, conducted under the Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (Phase II), was funded under the leadership of Project Director Anurag Singh, IFS, and implemented by Sunnydeo Choudhary, IFS, Conservator of Forests, Central Assam Circle, Guwahati. Wildlife biologist Kamal Azad played a key role in the research.

But researchers say this is only part of the picture.

Using statistical modelling, the team estimates that Guwahati could be home to around 55 leopards, indicating that many animals remain undetected within the city's fragmented ...