New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Surroundings, Forest and Local weather Change (MOEF&CC) has discovered that 63 per cent of Kerala's leopards had been sighted exterior the protected space. A ministry report additionally indicated a decline within the variety of leopards in Kerala.
In keeping with 2022 statistics, Kerala was residence to 570 leopards, 80 fewer than the 650 rosette huge cats counted in 2018.
Throughout the interval 2018-2022, leopard inhabitants elevated in Periyar Tiger Reserve, whereas Wayanad and Malayattoor area confirmed a decline. Inhabitants decline continued in Eravikulam Nationwide Park and Konni, Ranni and Vazhachal divisions.
In keeping with the most recent statistics, India has an estimated leopard inhabitants of 13,874, up from 12,852 counted in 2018. Madhya Pradesh has the best variety of leopards (three,907) within the nation.
Human-wildlife conflicts doubled
The MOEF&CC report additionally says that human-wildlife conflicts in Kerala have doubled within the final seven years. In 2015-2016, as much as 6,022 such instances had been reported, which skyrocketed to 10,036 in 2021-2022.
The report additionally says that between 2013 and 2019, 547 instances of leopards attacking people had been recorded.
Wayanad North Division reported the best variety of man-animal conflicts, adopted by Kannur and Wayanad South Division, the report stated.
Improve in total leopard inhabitants in India
In the meantime, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday praised the nation's unwavering dedication to biodiversity. He praised the numerous enhance in India's leopard inhabitants.
India's estimated leopard inhabitants has elevated from 12,852 in 2018 to 13,874 in 2022, the Union Surroundings Ministry stated on Thursday. The 'State of Leopards in India' report, launched by Union Surroundings Minister Bhupender Yadav, stated Madhya Pradesh has the utmost variety of leopards within the nation at three,907 (up from three,421 in 2018).
Reposting the Surroundings Minister's put up on the report on X, Modi stated: “Excellent news! This vital enhance in leopard numbers is a testomony to India's unwavering dedication to biodiversity.”
“I congratulate all those that are a part of the varied collective efforts in direction of the safety of wildlife, paving the best way for sustainable coexistence,” he stated.
The variety of cats grew from 1,690 in 2018 to 1,985 in 2022 in Maharashtra, from 1,783 to 1,879 in Karnataka and from 868 to 1,070 in Tamil Nadu.
“Central India exhibits a steady or barely growing leopard inhabitants (eight,820 in 2022 in comparison with eight,071 in 2018), the Shivalik Hills and Indo-Gangetic Plains skilled a decline (from 1,253 in 2018 to 1,109 in 2022),” he stated. the Ministry of the Surroundings in a press release.
(With enter from PTI)