Leopard Attacks In Saurashtra: 600 People Attacked In 5 Years, Around 150 Killed
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Leopard attacks have killed around 150 people and injured hundreds in Saurashtra over the past five years, with the animals increasingly entering farms and villages.
Leopards Moving Beyond Forests
A recent incident in Dedakiyal village of Mendarda taluka, where a five-year-old child was attacked and later found dead, has again raised concerns over the growing conflict between leopards and human settlements.
Similar incidents are being reported regularly in villages along the Gir forest boundary, with residents facing an increasing threat from leopard movement outside forest areas.
According to the report, India has around 14,000 leopards, of which more than 2,500 are in Gujarat. Junagadh district alone is estimated to have between 400 and 500 leopards.
The concern is not only their population but their increasing movement beyond forest boundaries into farms, villages and human settlements.
Over 700 People Attacked In Gujarat
According to official Assembly and Forest Department reports cited in the report, Gujarat records around 120 to 150 small and major leopard attacks on people every year.
More than 700 people have been attacked by leopards across Gujarat over the past five years, with cases ranging from minor injuries to serious attacks.
Around 150 people have lost their lives in leopard attacks during the same period. In Saurashtra, an estimated 30 to 35 people die in leopard attacks every year, according to the report.
Farms Becoming Leopard Habitats
The report points to a growing change in leopard behaviour, with agricultural fields increasingly becoming natural habitats for the animals.
It says that farmers and residents living near forest boundaries need greater awareness and official training on how to respond to leopard sightings and attacks.
The report also questions whether existing measures are sufficient to protect people living around the Gir forest boundary. It says that after attacks, compensation of around Rs 10 lakh is provided, but a long-term strategy is needed to prevent such incidents and protect both people and wildlife.
