BHOPAL: As many as 149 leopards have died in Madhya Pradesh over a 14-month period beginning January 2025, with road accidents emerging as the leading cause of fatalities, according to data obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) application.
The figures, accessed by wildlife activist Ajay Dube, highlight what he described as a “grim reality” for leopard conservation in the state. However, forest officials maintain that the mortality rate remains within acceptable limits and say measures are being implemented to curb deaths.
Madhya Pradesh, which has the highest leopard population in India, recorded 3,907 individuals as per the Status of Leopards in India 2022 report released in February 2024. This marks a significant increase from the 3,421 leopards recorded in 2018.
According to the RTI response, road accidents accounted for 31 per cent of the deaths, including 19 fatalities on highways. Natural causes such as old age and disease made up 24 per cent, while 21 per cent resulted from intraspecies conflict.
Poaching and retaliatory killings were responsible for around 14 per cent of the deaths. Additionally, eight leopards died due to electrocution—either accidental or deliberate—while two fell victim to snares. In approximately nine per cent of cases, the cause of death could not be determined.
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) L. Krishnamoorthy said the department is working to reduce mortality through targeted interventions. “We have a roadmap in place to bring down leopard deaths, recognising that the species is widely distributed and often inhabits areas close to human settlements,” he said.
He added that mitigation measures such as wildlife passages along new roads, installation of warning signage, and increased patrolling are being implemented. Authorities are also discouraging the creation of water sources near roads, as these tend to attract animals and increase their vulnerability to vehicular accidents.
Another senior forest official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the mortality rate—approximately four per cent of the state’s leopard population—is within expected parameters. “In big cat populations, an annual mortality rate of up to 10 per cent is considered normal, and even 20 per cent can be acceptable due to factors like age and natural causes,” the official noted.
Dube, however, criticised the state’s conservation efforts, calling the situation “record-breaking” in terms of leopard deaths. He alleged that inadequate implementation of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) protocols and the absence of safe wildlife corridors have contributed significantly to the losses.
Despite accidents being the leading cause of death, Dube claimed there is little accountability for fatalities linked to infrastructure development and electrocution. “The apathy of authorities suggests that leopards are being treated as a secondary priority,” he said.
(With inputs from PTI)