(IN): Leopard count plunges by 69

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The Times of India, Kolkata Saturday, February 28, 2009

 

*Leopard count plunges by 69*

 

 

Decline Recorded In Past 8 Weeks, Activists Relate Deaths To Poaching

 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

 

New Delhi: India’s leopard count has gone down by 69 in the past eight

weeks. Statistics show that between January 1 and February 25, 2009, at

least 36 leopards were either poisoned, ensnared in traps, killed in

accidents or became victims of man-animal conflict. One of them even fell

into a well and died in Karnataka last month.

That’s not all. Officials have also seized 33 leopard skins and 9 kilos

of bones in these eight weeks in different parts of the country, data

gathered by a Delhi-based NGO, Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI),

reveals. The killing cuts across all regions — from Bandhavgarh in Madhya

Pradesh to Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir, from Karnataka’s Udupi

district to Bihar’s Madhubani. The highest number of killings (15) took

place in Uttarakhand, which has the largest population of leopards in India.

Four leopard skins and 4.5 kg bones were also recovered from the state.

Part of the problem stems from growing man-animal conflicts caused by the

habitat loss of the big cat. But wildlife activists say that a significant

number of these deaths are related to poaching. The seizure of leopard skins

in states like Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh

indicates that illegal wildlife trade is widespread. “In recent times

poaching seems to have gone up due to the rise of illegal skin trade in

China,” says Advait Edgaonkar, a Bangalorebased carnivore biologist who

specializes in leopards.

In India, three major wildlife species are traded illegally: tiger,

leopard and otter. Sources say China and South-East Asian countries are the

biggest markets. Tiger parts are used to produce medicines.

*

Animal bones seized

 

*Imphal: Assam Rifles personnel have seized 5 kg of leopard bones, 1 kg of

leopard skulls, eight animal skulls and 7 kg of bones of different animals

from a taxi at the Bongyang checkpost in Chandel district. “The consignment

belonged to Lamjshau Kuki, a 53-year-old former constable of Nagaland Police

from Moreh,” an Assam Rifles official said. Kuki was handed over to Pallel

officials. TNN

 

 

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