261 Leopards Have Died in 2011

Around 261 leopards have died between January and early September of 2011. Rising human-animal conflict accounts for a large number as well as poaching. Many of the deaths occur when leopards enter human habitations and the scared people try to chase the animal away. According to Belinda Wright of WPSI, this is an issue that needs to go beyond the law and needs creation of awareness amongst people on the need to protect these animals. Praveen Bhargav of Wildlife First says that research shows that the leopard’s habitat was suffering not only in density but also contiguity and that all Schedule I species must be protected through multiple approaches such as protecting habitats and their contiguity, protecting prey species and prosecuting offenders.