Home / Environment / MP: 149 Leopards Dead in 14 Months, RTI Reveals
MP: 149 Leopards Dead in 14 Months, RTI Reveals
10 Apr
Summary
- 149 leopards died in Madhya Pradesh over 14 months.
- Road accidents account for 31% of leopard fatalities.
- Forest Dept claims mortality rate is within acceptable limits.
A total of 149 leopards have died in Madhya Pradesh over a 14-month period that began in January 2025. Data obtained through a Right to Information query reveals that accidents were the primary cause of these deaths.
Analysis of the RTI response indicates that 31% of the fatalities occurred due to road accidents, with 19 deaths specifically on highways. Natural causes, such as old age and disease, accounted for 24% of the deaths, while inter-wildlife conflicts led to 21% of the fatalities.
Poaching and retaliatory killings were responsible for approximately 14% of the leopard deaths. Additionally, eight animals died from electrocution, and two from snares. The cause of death for about 9% of the leopards could not be determined.
Forest officials are implementing measures to reduce leopard mortality, including animal passages on roads, signage, and regular patrolling. They emphasize that the approximately 4% death rate out of a population of 3,907 leopards is within an acceptable range. However, activists criticize the state's handling of leopard protection, citing a failure to implement protocols and a lack of safe corridors.
