Jhalana Leopard Reserve, located very near to Malviya Nagar, a developed area of Jaipur city, is probably the smallest protected wildlife area in India. The total area of this protected forest is only 24 square kilometers. This forest area, with a population of about 38 leopards, is rapidly making its mark on the world stage.
Situated in the Jhalana area of Jaipur, this forest area was used as private property by the Jaipur royal family till 1860. At that time the number of wildlife in Jhalana forests was very high, so members of the royal family used to come here to play hunting.
Apart from members of the royal family, people from the surrounding villages used to come to collect wood, fodder and their necessities for their livelihood. For the first time in 1862, the British appointed Dr. Brandis as the I.G. of this forest to establish systematic management in this forest.