Leopards provide public health benefits by preying on free-ranging dogs in Mumbai

This study quantified an unexpected ecosystem service delivered by leopards inhabiting Sanjay Gandhi National Park inside greater Mumbai. By modelling leopard diet, in which feral and stray dogs form a major component, the authors estimated the number of dogs removed annually by the park leopard population and translated this into reduced dog bites and potential rabies cases in surrounding human communities. The analysis reframed an apex predator living beside eighteen million people as a contributor to disease control rather than purely a hazard. It illustrated how urban large carnivores can hold tangible value for human well-being, strengthening arguments for tolerance and coexistence around the park.