In a first, state to hold census of Asiatic black bear, leopard

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 5

Considering the increase in attacks on human beings, the wildlife wing of the Forest Department will hold a census of Asiatic black bear and common leopard with the help of the Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, and formulate a strategy to combat the issue.

The wildlife wing of the Forest Department will soon sign a memorandum of understanding with the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata, for undertaking the population estimation so that there is an idea about the population of black bears and leopards. A major part of this will be as study on human-wildlife conflict, which will primarily focus on these two species.

Though a census to ascertain the population of common leopards had been undertaken in 2004, it was not done scientifically and its figures were highly doubtful. The Forest Department has undertaken the census of monkey and langur thrice and of the highly endangered snow leopard once. However, it will, for the first time, collect data on Asiatic black bears which are found in the higher reaches of Chamba, Shimla, Kullu and Sirmaur.

“The study will focus on devising strategies to reduce the human-wildlife conflict as we keep getting reports about attacks on people either by leopards or black bears,” said Archana Sharma, Chief Wildlife Warden and Principal Chief Conservator Forest (Wildlife).

It was in June 2004 that a survey had been undertaken to assess the leopard population in the state, which turned out to be 785. This included 24 animals in captivity. However, these figures were disputed as the survey was not done scientifically. As per this survey, the snow leopard population estimation stood at 35, which after the conservation project in Spiti has risen above 50.

Experts from a renowned NGO, headed by Vidya Athreya, a wildlife biologist, had been assigned the task of mapping the leopard population in 2014.