As per the recent report by the Union Ministry 

A recent report released by the Union Ministry unveiled Maharashtra as the state with the second-highest leopard population in India, totalling 1985 in 2022. The report, made public by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav on February 29, 2024, highlighted key findings regarding leopard populations across the country.

According to the report, Madhya Pradesh holds the top position with 3907 leopards in 2022, followed by Maharashtra. Karnataka ranks third with 1879 leopards, and Tamil Nadu stands fourth with 1070 leopards. The estimation, conducted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority and Wildlife Institute of India, focused on forested habitats within 18 tiger states.

Virendra Tiwari, Director of Wildlife Institute of India, noted that leopards demonstrate ecological adaptability and resilience, resulting in a stable population growth of 1.08% per annum across sampled areas in India. However, challenges persist, particularly in managing human-leopard conflicts, which have been increasing steadily, especially in the Western Ghats due to habitat loss.

The report underscores the importance of protected areas for leopard conservation, highlighting the need for sustainable coexistence between humans and leopards. Despite challenges, the findings reflect a positive outlook for leopard populations in India, aligning with the philosophy of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" or the world is one family.