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Uttarakhand Carnivore Crisis: 749 Leopards, 86 Tigers Lost Since 2020
31 Jan
Summary
- 749 leopards and 86 tigers have died in Uttarakhand since 2020.
- 2022 and 2024 were high-mortality years for large carnivores.
- Unknown causes and road accidents contribute significantly to deaths.
Data released under the Right to Information Act reveals that Uttarakhand has lost 749 leopards and 86 tigers since the beginning of 2020. This period has seen a concerning rise in wildlife mortality.
In 2022 and 2024, the state recorded the highest numbers of large carnivore deaths. Tiger fatalities included causes such as road accidents, poaching, mutual fights, natural causes, and a significant portion listed under unknown causes. Similarly, leopard deaths were attributed to various factors including accidents, snaring, fights, natural causes, and a high number of unknown reasons.
Concerns have been raised regarding investigation and post-mortem procedures, with unknown causes persisting. Despite these losses, tiger populations increased from 178 in 2006 to 560 in 2022, and leopard populations grew from 2,092 in 2003 to 2,927 in 2023.
