In the summer of 2021, Gayathri, Vihaan and I made a trip to Jhalana Leopard Reserve. Surprisingly this little, approximately 20 sq. km reserve sits in the middle of the crowded city of Jaipur; with its huge population of about 3.1 million people. Given the small area and its relatively large population of free ranging leopards - 36 at the last count - you’re almost destined to bump into the cats on every single visit. So if you haven’t had great luck spotting these enigmatic predators in the past, consider this your guaranteed leopard fix. That being said, the habitat of the forest presents quite a photography challenge. The bush is very close to the tracks and as a consequence even when you spot a leopard, you may not have a worthwhile shot. Add to that the general tendency of leopards who live close to human habitation, to be reclusive and shy of humans. After all, their big meals are street dogs and livestock from the colonies that border the reserve.

Elusive predators aside, the reserve does have surprising biodiversity for an urban wilderness and merits a visit, if only to see leopards in such a habitat. Here are some photographs from the reserve to give you a sense of what to expect.