Cost of Living in Leopard Habitat: Pattern, Drivers, and Perceptions of Human‐Leopard Conflict in the Aravalli Hilly Landscape, Rajasthan, India

ABSTRACT Large carnivores face increasing challenges in human‐dominated landscapes, where conflict undermines both livelihoods and conservation goals. We investigated the patterns, drivers, and community perceptions of human–leopard conflict in and around Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary, southern Aravalli Hills, Rajasthan, India, between 2011 and 2024. We documented a total of 572 conflict incidents, largely livestock depredation (98.08%), with goats, cows and calves being most frequently targeted. Conflict occurred year‐round, peaking at night in cattle sheds and households. Modeling identified elevation, land‐use/land‐cover, distance to sanctuary, and distance to human habitation (DTHH) as strong predictors of conflict probability, with highest risk in built‐up and scrubland areas near village peripheries. Husbandry practices, including poorly constructed cattle sheds seem to be associated with increased livestock vulnerability, while coping strategies (e.g., night guarding) were largely ineffective. Only 31% of depredation cases were claimed for compensation, and approved payouts were significantly lower than actual losses, reinforcing economic grievances. Encouragingly, no retaliatory killings were reported, reflecting cultural coexistence toward wildlife. Surveys ( n = 201) revealed that local attitude were close to neutral, with only a slight negative tendency (mean attitude score = −0.2). Education level emerged as the strongest determinant of coexistence, with more educated respondents expressing greater positive orientation toward leopards. Our findings demonstrate that conflict in semi‐arid landscapes arises from the intersection of ecological, socio‐economic, and institutional factors. Effective coexistence strategies should prioritize leopard‐proof livestock enclosures, equitable and timely compensation, education‐based awareness programs, and landscape‐level planning beyond protected areas to foster long‐term human–leopard coexistence.