Rajasthan Becomes First to Conduct Leopard Census


Rajasthan Becomes First to Conduct Leopard Census 

Experts highlight habitat loss due to mining and development as a major threat to leopards; state-wide census is expected to improve conservation efforts
 
40 year old man dragged by a leopard-Dead

Udaipur, January 13, 2025 - Rajasthan, the first state in India to launch a leopard project, is set to conduct a state-wide census of leopards. The initiative comes in response to increasing leopard-human conflicts, especially in districts like Udaipur, Sikar, and Bhilwara.

Rising Leopard Conflicts

Leopard attacks have become a growing concern in Rajasthan. In Udaipur district alone, leopards allegedly killed eight people last year. Recently, attacks were also reported in Sikar and Bhilwara. In Alwar, a leopard lived in a college for over a month after straying from forest areas. Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma stressed the need for accurate leopard population data to manage conflicts better. Following this, Chief Wildlife Warden Pawan Kumar Upadhyay instructed all wildlife divisions to prioritise the census.

Census Methodology

The census will use camera traps and track leopard signs like pugmarks, scats, vocalisations, and livestock depredation. Wildlife staff will focus on gathering detailed data across all protected areas and reserves.

Growing Leopard Population

The "Status of Leopards in India 2022" report shows Rajasthan’s leopard population grew by 51.5% between 2018 and 2022. Numbers increased from 476 in 2018 to 721 in 2022. The new census aims to provide a more accurate count by including leopards outside tiger reserves.

Challenges and Solutions

Experts highlight habitat loss due to mining and development as a major threat to leopards. To reduce conflicts, stricter regulation of human activities in leopard habitats is essential.

The state-wide census is expected to improve conservation efforts and address the challenges of leopard-human coexistence.

Source: Media Reports

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