Leopard -Human conflict continues to raise it’s ugly head in the state of Uttarakhand. Recently, two areas -one in Almora saw the killing of an elderly lady and one in Chamoli saw two children killed by leopards. Sharp-shooters were brought in by the state forest department. In Chamoli, the sharp-shooters were successful in killing a leopard in the same area that the deaths of two children took place.
While leopards that have taken to attacking humans should be removed from the wild leopard population interestingly in each of the many leopard -human conflict cases where leopards have been shot there is no credible evidence relating the animal shot to the attacks that took place. Leopards are shot at random and then claims are made that the “man-eater” operating in the area has been shot. Identification of “man-eating” leopards is often based on pugmarks which has been found to be highly unreliable for differentiating between individuals of the species and can only best be used to suggest the presence of a leopard in the area. Infact, this method is no longer used in tiger and leopard estimation exercises in the country which require identifying individuals of the species.
A dangerous precedent has been set with the ad-hoc shooting of leopards which is fraught with danger particularly to humans. Scientific research on these felines have shown that when a resident leopard is shot or removed from its territory it is generally replaced by another leopard generally a younger one. These leopards which are new to the area are generally unfamiliar with their new territory and often are unable to secure their natural prey. This often results in them moving towards human settlements in the vicinity of their new territory for an easy kill - be it cattle or human. So actually, the very practice of the ad-hoc shooting of leopards by the state forest department rather than being part of the solution is actually part of the problem.
The case of the leopard killed at Kulmori in the Pabau area of the Pauri Garhwal district brings to light the very laxities of the custodians of our state’s forest and wildlife in mitigating the conflict. In this particular instance, a young child was killed by a leopard in Village Kulmori on the 2nd of October in 2019. An earlier case occurred in the area in July 2019. The state’s Chief Wildlife Warden declared the leopard a “man-eater” in the area on the 2nd of October and sharp-shooters were pressed into service. They were rewarded with a leopard kill on the 6th of October and claimed to have killed the “man-eater” operating in the area. No evidence exists as to whether the leopard shot had actually killed the two people earlier in July and October of 2019. What is even stranger is that the autopsy report of the leopard shows no evidences of human remains in it’s stomach. Stanger still was that it had an empty stomach considering that it had attacked and eaten part of a child a few days earlier. So is it a case of mistaken identity? And how many more such mistaken identities are occurring? Infact, the Pabau area still continues to see leopard-human conflict cases inspite of the removal of the “man-eater”.
Most news reports indicate that attacks by leopards have occurred when women have entered the forests for extracting fodder and lopping wood. Why is the forest department in the state permitting them to enter forests areas? Are complaints being filed for trespassing into forest areas? And if not, then why not?
Another point to consider is how much does a shooter get paid to shoot a leopard? And do these sharp-shooters depend on such shooting to earn a few quick bucks?
Maybe these matters should be investigated. It would be no surprise if some of these nefarious sharp-shooters, the so-called protectors of human beings are also involved in other forest violations in connivance with vested interests. Maybe shooting “man-eating” leopards to “protect” humans is a good strategy to keep the law at bay and project themselves as messiahs so that their forest crimes can be exonerated.
Incidentally, in chinese traditional medicine, tiger parts are increasingly being substituted by leopard parts like teeth, claws and even paws. Makes one wonder if leopards are losing their teeth and claws during these hunts. Perhaps declaring leopards as “man-eaters” may actually benefit the market and that I guess could be the ease of doing business.
