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NEW DELHI: Recent data indicates a troubling decline in the leopard population in Uttarakhand, with the state showing a 3.4% decrease in overall leopard numbers. The current leopard population in the landscape stands at 1,109. In contrast, Uttar Pradesh has recorded increased leopard numbers, highlighting differing conservation outcomes between the neighboring states.
Leopards occupy 76% of 351 cells (100 km² each) below 2,000 meters above sea level in the region. The Dehradun-Kalsi areas of Uttarakhand were camera-trapped for the first time, revealing a substantial leopard population with a minimum of 107 individuals. However, the Ramnagar Forest Division has seen a decline in leopard numbers while tiger populations have surged dramatically over the past four years. Notably, the Rajaji, Dudhwa, and Corbett Tiger Reserves harbor the largest site-wise leopard populations within this landscape.
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The Shivalik landscape has witnessed a rise in conflicts involving large carnivores and mega-herbivores in recent years. Alarmingly, 65% of the leopard population resides outside Protected Areas, leading to an increase in human-wildlife conflicts. In the past five years, leopards have been responsible for 30% of all wildlife-related human deaths and injuries in Uttarakhand. With rising tiger numbers in the landscape, managing large carnivore conflicts has become a pressing issue for the state.
Uttar Pradesh has seen an increase in both leopard and tiger populations necessitating active engagement by the forest department and civil administration to resolve human-animal conflicts. Some areas between Katarniaghat and Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary have reported leopard presence in 2022 where none were observed in 2018. The overall leopard-occupied area has remained consistent over the two monitoring cycles except for some parts of Nainital in Uttarakhand which showed a decline in leopard occupancy in 2022.
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Dehradun, Kalsi, and Narendranagar Forest Divisions were sampled for the first time in 2022. Leopard density was computed from 26 camera-trapped sites within this landscape, yielding 10,564 leopard photo captures and identifying 943 individuals. The study used leopard sign encounter rate, prey density, and human disturbance as covariates to model leopard density within a likelihood SECR framework. The best model included both leopard and tiger signs explaining leopard density across the landscape.
The total leopard population within the sampled forested landscape of the Shivalik-Gangetic plains is estimated at 1,109, compared to 1,253 in 2018 and 929 in 2014. The decline in leopard numbers underscores the urgent need for enhanced conservation strategies and conflict management initiatives in Uttarakhand.
