Leopard Army Threatens UP Districts

Leopards in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor and Moradabad districts are posing a severe threat, with officials likening their burgeoning numbers to a "marauding army." A recent survey indicated 444 leopards in Bijnor alone, a figure projected to triple in five years without population control measures. This surge has led to increased human-animal conflict, resulting in 11 deaths and 30 injuries this year across the two districts.

Officials are employing measures like capture, having taken in 92 leopards this year, but view it as a losing battle. The region's sugarcane fields provide ideal cover for the "sugarcane leopards," facilitating movement between districts. With an estimated 786 villages reporting leopard activity, the situation is dire.

To address this crisis, the Forest Department has proposed sterilizing 75% of the leopard population over five years. This scientific approach aims to stabilize the population, which could otherwise reach 1,336 in Bijnor alone within five years. The proposal awaits approval from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

Leopard-related incidents in Bijnor have dramatically increased, from single digits in 2015 to over 100 in recent years. This escalating conflict highlights the urgent need for effective population management strategies, including sterilization and potential relocation, to ensure the safety of residents and wildlife.