Despite rising attacks, govt cold to leopard mapping

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 24

Even as the process of mapping of leopard population is still incomplete, the number of attacks on human beings as well as cattle is on the rise with there being some fatalities as well.

Though leopard attack is a normal phenomenon during winters, concern is being expressed over the high frequency of attacks in the past one month. The last survey undertaken in 2004 had put the number of leopards at 785 and ever since there has been no population estimation. Forest officials admit that the number of leopards might have increased over the years as there is very frequent spotting of the animals.

During the last one month, there have been several leopard attacks, including the one in Kinnaur, in which one woman was killed and the man-eater had to be shot dead. Besides, there have been several incidents in Una, Hamirpur and Mandi where leopards have attacked human beings and caused severe injuries. Making cattle and dogs their prey has been a routine affair and there have been several such cases.

A total of 78 persons have lost their lives and 2,398 injured in leopard attacks from 2001 to 2017, with the highest casualty being in 2009-10 when 11 persons had been mauled. A total of Rs 72 lakh was disbursed as compensation for the killings while the total amount given to people for injury and cattle perish stands at Rs 4.88 crore.

Experts from a renowned NGO, headed by Vidya Athreya, a wildlife biologist who has a vast experience in tackling problems related to leopards, have been assigned the task of undertaking the mapping of leopards to work out a strategy for reducing the increasing man-animal conflict. An interim report had been submitted by the NGO but they have yet to complete their work and as such their recommendations are still awaited which could help reduce the man-animal conflict. Though the Wildlife Wing of the Forest Department had intended to get a fresh survey of leopards done, now the task is likely to be undertaken next year. In the previous survey, the number of snow leopard in Himachal stood at 35, besides 785 leopards. The Wildlife Wing had undertaken radio collaring of leopards in Shimla which had indicated that the dumping of garbage in the open and easy availability of dogs as prey was the main reason for frequent spotting of the leopards in and around Shimla.

Pneumonia kills leopard

• n A leopard was found dead in the Aghar forest range near Bhota in Hamirpur on Friday.
• n The post-mortem report revealed that the big cat had died of pneumonia. The leopard was two years old. 
• n  It was learnt that two stray dogs were killed by a leopard in the town on Thursday night. Preeti Bhandari, DFO, said it was not sure wether it was the same leopard that had attacked the stray dogs  — Dinesh Kanwar

78 die, 2,398 injured in attacks since 2001

• The last survey undertaken in 2004 had put the number of leopards at 785 and ever since there has been no population estimation.
• A total of 78 persons have lost their lives and 2,398 injured in leopard attacks from 2001 to 2017, with the highest casualty being in 2009-10 when 11 persons had been mauled
• A total of Rs 72 lakh was disbursed as compensation for the killings while the total amount given to people for injury and cattle perish stands at Rs 4.88 crore. 

Man-animal conflict

Year Human   Injuries deaths 

2001-02 4 64

2002-03 5 93

2003-04 7 35

2004-05 2 44 

2005-06 2 73

2006-07 7 101

2007-08 10 178 

2008-09 4 213

2009-10 11 252

2010-11 5 494

2011-12 7 497

2012-13 2 455

2013-14 5 580

2014-15 3 93

2015-16 2 15

2016-17 2 12 

Total 78 2,398