International Journal of Ecosystem 2012, 2(4): 44-53 DOI: 10.5923/j.ije.20120204.01 Mortality in the Protected Leopard’s Population, Uttarakhand, North India: A Free-Ranging Wildlife Species in Threat Ritesh Joshi1,*, Rajendra Agarwal2 1Conservation and Survey Division, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India, Paryavaran Bhawan, CGO Complex, New Delhi–110 003, India 2Wildlife Protection Society of India, Uttarakhand Region, Kankhal, Haridwar, 249 401, Uttarakhand, India Abstract Large cats are vulnerable to local extinction in fragmented landscapes mainly due to large scope developmental and anthropogenic activities. Present study highlights the mortality of protected leopard’s population in Uttarakhand state, north-west India. In between January 2009 to October 2010, 78 leopards have died due to various reasons accounted pri- marily for unnatural deaths. Maximum deaths occurred in between February 2009 & April 2010 and notably 37 leopards died since January, 2010. The mortality rate for females was significantly higher than for males. Notably, 11 leopards were found dead scrambled in trap and some deaths occurred while providing treatment after rescuing the animal. In addition, 21 cases of leopard’s poaching (illegal wildlife trade) were also documented in between January 2009 to March 2010 in which 35 leopard’s skins were recovered, which highlighted that poaching is also ongoing in some remote areas. Status of man-animal conflict in Uttarakhand is severely increasing; in between November 2000 to December 2008, 180 people died in leopard’s attack, whereas 343 were injured during encounters and leopard’s attacks. On the other hand, 394 leopards died due to other reasons during the said period and 50 were declared as man-eater, which were shot dead or translocated to other protected habitat. Here, we report on the mortality in protected leopard population of Uttarakhand state and conservation status. Such reports are highly required to know the status and our competence in illustrating success and failures of wildlife rescue op- erations besides in conservation of an endangered wildlife. Keywords Conservation, Leopard, Mortality, Protected Habitat, Threat, Uttarakhand Haldwani forests divisions. Remarkably, in between January 1. Introduction 2009 and April 11, 2010, 78 leopards have died at different locations of Uttarakhand state and most of the deaths oc- Leopard (Panthera pardus) is widely distributed wild big curred in protected habitats (Table 1). cat and listed as an endangered species in IUCN Red List of Threatened Mammals and categorized under Schedule 1 of “Wildlife Protection Act 1972”. In between January 2009 to 2. Causes of Mortality October 2010, this species has dwindled drastically in Utta- The specific reason of maximum number of leopard’s rakhand state and its existing populations are at high risk deaths was not clearly known because of old carcass found. (Figure 1). One of the main reasons for this decline is the This has accounted for 30 leopards (38.4 %), which were degradation of the habitat and loss of connectivity among found dead at different locations of the state (Figure 5 C&D). different protected habitats. In Uttarakhand, Rajaji–Corbett Ground data revealed that 24.3 % (19) leopards died due to wildlife corridor is the strong hold of leopards with a popu- poaching / captured in trap (in some cases died during care lation of 608 (census 2005, Figure 5 A&B), which also in- after rescued from trap, Figure 5 E) whereas 20.5% (16) cludes the population in Rajaji National Park, Corbett Tiger leopards were declared as man-eater and had been shot dead. Reserve (including Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Kala- Road accidental deaths accounted for 6.4 % (05), killed by garh Tiger Reserve), Lansdowne, Dehradun, Haridwar, villager in self-defense accounted for 3.9 % (03) and train Ramnagar, Terai East, Terai West, Terai Central and accidental deaths accounted for 1.3 % (01). A total of 3.9 % (03) animal had been died in internal fight whereas 1.3 % (01) * Corresponding author: [email protected] (Ritesh Joshi) killed in wildfires (Table 1, Figure 2, 5 F&G). However, it Published online at http://journal.sapub.org/ije was said in some cases that leopard died because of disease/ Copyright © 2012 Scientific & Academic Publishing. All Rights Reserved illness, but we assumed all these cases under unknown 45 International Journal of Ecosystem 2012, 2(4): 44-53 category. It is quite difficult to find out accurate reason of sons. However, exact death reason could be known tenta- death especially when any old carcass is found, even after the tively by investigating the field evidences. post-mortem; it is very difficult to trace accurate death rea- Table 1. Leopard’s mortality in Uttarakhand since January 2009 January 01, 1. Terai West Forest Division - Found injured, died during care 2009 January 22, Pokhaal, Kotdwar, Lansdowne Forest Female, 2. Shot-dead, declared as man-eater 2009 Division 03 years February Rajawala, Selaqui, Dehradun Forest 3. - Found dead 03, 2009 Division February 4. Almora Forest Division - Internal Fight 06, 2009 February 5. Almora Forest Division Male, Found dead, Unknown 08, 2009 February Gopeshwar-Chamoli Route, Nanda 6. - Trapped in clutch wire, rescued, died during care 13, 2009 Devi Biosphere Reserve February 7. Almora Forest Division -, Cub Found Dead, Unknown 16, 2009 February 8. Nainital Forest Division -, Cub Found Dead, Unknown 16, 2009 February Ghamandpur, Ranipokhri, Barkot 9. Male, - Found dead 17, 2009 Range, Dehradun, Forest Division February Paathisain area, Dhumakot, Pauri 10. Male, - Found dead 18, 2009 Forest Division February Paathisain area, Dhumakot, Pauri 11. Female, - Found dead 18, 2009 Forest Division February 12. Pokhaal, Pauri Forest - Shot-dead by shooter; declared as man-eater 19, 2009 February 13. Gairsain, Chamoli Forest - Shot-dead by shooter; declared as man-eater 19, 2009 February Khatima-Banbasa Route, Banbasa 14. Female, - Road accident 19, 2009 Forest March 05, 15. Kholiagaon, Bageshwar Forest - Shot-dead, declared as man-eater 2009 April 12, 16. Gairsain, Chamoli Forest Female, - Shot-dead, declared as man-eater 2009 April 26, Gadgadia Range, Haldwani Forest 17. - Found dead 2009 Division May 13, Chopra, Raipur Range, Mussoorie 18. Female. - Shot-dead by shooter, declared as man-eater 2009 Forest Division May 20, Haridwar-Roorkee route, near to 19. - Road accident 2009 Pathri rau, Haridwar Forest Division June 09, Female, 20. Tol village, Devprayag Shot dead, declared as man-eater 2009 08 years June 28, 21. Devprayag - Shot dead, declared as man-eater 2009 June …, Sikroda, Khanpur Range, Haridwar 22. - Found dead 2009 Forest Division July 01, 23. Premnagar, Dehradun Forest Division Female, - Shot dead, declared as man-eater 2009 July 14, 24. Bharpur patti, Devprayag, Tehri - Killed by shooter (declared as man-eater) 2009 July 15, Kudkawala, Haridwar Forest Divi- Male, 05 25. Found dead, Poaching (bullets were found over to body) 2009 sion years July 16, Kumrada village, Chinyalisaur, Female, 26. Killed by villager during attack/self-defence 2009 Uttarkashi 04 years Ritesh Joshi et al.: Mortality in the Protected Leopard’s Population, Uttarakhand, 46 North India: A Free-Ranging Wildlife Species in Threat July 17, 27. Khandah, Pauri - Brutally killed by villagers 2009 July 23, Female, 28. Nainital Zoo Shifted from Birla Forest, rescued, finally died 2009 04 years July 27, 29. Gairsain area, Chamoli Forest - Shot dead, declared as man-eater 2009 August 16, 30. East Jhandi chaur, Kotdwar Forest - Found injured, died during care 2009 August 19, 31. Chiniyalisaur, Uttarkashi - Found injured, died during rescue 2009 August 21, 32. Gopeshwar, Chamoli Forest Division - Found injured, died during rescue operation 2009 August 21, Male, 05 33. Gairsain, Chamoli Forest Shot dead, declared as man-eater 2009 years October 07, Motasaal are, Sonanadi Wildlife 34. Female, - Found dead 2009 Sanctuary Kalagarh Tiger Reserve October 13, Chaukhutia Block, Almora Forest 35. - Shot dead, declared as man-eater 2009 Division October 15, Yamkeshwar Block, Pauri Forest 36. Male,- Shot dead, declared as man-eater 2009 Division October 23, Kaladhungi Range, Ramnager Forest 37. - Found dead, internal fight 2009 Division November Bhardaar are, Jakholi Bl., Rudra- 38. Female, - Shot dead, declared as man-eater 07, 2009 prayag Forest Division November 39. Kansrao, Rajaji National Park Female, - Train accident 12, 2009 November Chini Forest, Khatima Range, Terai Found dead, carcass found in a nallah; Haemorrhage of 40. Male, - 20, 2009 East, Forest Division intestine/bleeding? December Chauharpura Range, Barwa village, 41. - Found dead; 03 nails missing 24, 2009 Dehradun Forest Division January 06, Chaukuni Forest, Champawat Forest Female, 42. Found dead, Unknown 2010 Division 02 years January 07, Rishikesh Forest, Dehradun Forest Female, 43. Road accident 2010 Division 02 years January 12, Patrampur, south Jaspur, Terai West Female, 44. Found Dead, Unknown 2010 Forest Division 04 years Forest near to Buggawala village, January 15, 45. Khanpur Forest, Haridwar Forest - Found Dead, Unknown (post-mortem report - Disease) 2010 Division January 21, Haldwani Forest, Terai Central Forest 46. -, 03 years Road accident 2010 Division January 22, Jhajra Forest, Dehradun Forest Divi- 47. - Shooted down [declared as man-eater] 2010 sion January 24, Forest near to Bosaan village, Chak- 48. - Found dead, unknown 2010 rata Forest Division January 27, Kota Forest, Ramnagar Forest