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.
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.
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.
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.
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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