261 leopards die in 2011 as conflict gets bloody

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They are increasingly wandering into fields, villages and even buildings on the outskirts of towns and cities.

Spotting a leopard close to human habitation is no longer surprising. The result is inevitable — the animals are sometimes either stoned or killed by groups of people. Others are fortunately rescued.

But their numbers in the wild are beginning to suffer as they inevitably become losers in this increasing conflict with people who have occupied what once used to be their habitation.

As many as 261 leopards have died between January and early-September of this year alone, across the country, mainly as a result of the rising human-animal conflict, according to the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI). But poaching too is playing a big role in their disappearance.

In fact 54.87 per cent of the 328 leopard deaths across the country in 2010 were due to poaching. “Most leopard deaths are caused when they wander into human habitation and the scared people try to drive them away. As long as this attitude persists, their numbers will continue to fall.

“This is an issue that needs to go beyond the law. We need to place more emphasis on creating awareness among the people on the need to protect these animals,” says Belinda Wright, executive director, WPSI. Worryingly, Karnataka stands fourth where leopard deaths in 2011 are concerned.

It lost 14 leopard from January to September 2 this year mainly to conflict with humans. Although no exclusive census has been done for the leopards, the government of India put their population at 12,014 in January, 2008. Wildlife experts are not only worried about the accuracy of this figure, but also about the efforts being made to protect the animals that remain, so that their numbers don't fall any further.

“Leopards may be an ecologically resilient species, but it doesn't take away from the fact that they need to be protected,” they say.

Praveen Bhargav of Wildlife First says there are enough studies to show that the leopards’ habitat is suffering not just in density but also contiguity, forcing the animals to stray out. “All Schedule I species must be protected through multiple approaches such as preserving their habitat and its connectivity, protecting the prey species and prosecuting the offenders,” he stresses.