TEMPO.CO, Bandung - The number of Javan leopard (Panthera pardul melas) is estimated to be around 500. Anton Ario, program manajer at Conservation International, said that the number is based on the calculation of the remaining forest area in Java and the leopard's exploration range.
The majority of the leopards' habitat, said Anton, is believed to be centered in West Java, where there are more forest area left compared to Central Java and East Java.
Conservation International has been monitoring the activities of the Javan leopard using infrared cameras in West Java at Mount Gede, Mount Salimun, Mount Salak and Mount Malabar since 2013.
In Mount Gede, said Anton, the estimated population is 25 leopards. At Mount Malabar there are seven, while in Mount Salak-Halimun it is expected to be at least 50 leopard.
"Each leopard usually roams around their areas by about 6 to 8 square kilometers," he said.
The birth rate of leopards is three cubs per one female at most. "Generally one female gives birth to two cubs, with only one cob likely to survive," he said.
The Javan leopard is a leopard subspecies restricted to the island of Java. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the leopards as critically endangered since 2008.
ANWAR SISWADI
