Lok Sabha Question No. 844 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-14
Subject: Leopard Deaths
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RATTAN LAL KATARIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  No. 844

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2018

## Leopard Deaths

## 844. SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of leopard deaths reported and killed by poachers in the country during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise
- (b) whether any leopard has been killed by villagers and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the steps being taken for conservation and protection of leopards in the country ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) As per the available information in the Ministry,  based on the information provided by State Enforcement Agencies, total number of leopard poached during 2015, 2016 and 2017 are 194 and in current year  till October 2018 is 66. The state- wise list of leopard poaching is given in the Annexure.
- (b) The  management  and  protection  of  wildlife  including  leopard  is  primarily  the responsibility  of  the  concerned  State/  Union  Territory  Governments.  Information  on killing of leopards by villagers is not collated in the Ministry.
- (c) The steps taken by the Government for conservation and protection of wild animals including leopards are:
- i. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides for punishment for violation of its  provisions. The Act also provides for forfeiture of any equipment, vehicle or weapon that is used for committing wildlife offence(s).
- ii. Law  enforcement  authorities in the States maintain strict vigil against poaching of wild animals including leopards.
- iii. Wildlife  Crime  Control  Bureau  has  been  set  up  to  gather  intelligence  about poaching and unlawful trade in wild animals and animal articles and to achieve inter-state and trans-boundary coordination in enforcement of wildlife laws.
- iv. The State/Union Territory Governments have been requested to strengthen the field formations and intensify patrolling in and around Protected Areas.
- v. Protected Areas, viz., National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves covering important wildlife habitats have been created all  over  the  country  under  the  provisions  of  the  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act, 1972 to conserve wild animals and their habitats.
- vi. Financial  assistance  is  provided  to  the  State/Union  Territory  Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of 'Development of Wildlife Habitats', 'Project Tiger' and 'Project Elephant', for providing better protection to wildlife including leopards and improvement of habitat.

***

## ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 844 REGARDING 'LEOPARD DEATHS' BY SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA DUE FOR REPLY ON 14.12.2018.

## The state- wise list of leopard poaching as provided by State Enforcement Authorities

| S.No.   | States           |   2015 |   2016 |   2017 |   2018 (upto October 2018) |
|---------|------------------|--------|--------|--------|----------------------------|
| 1       | Assam            |      3 |      0 |      4 |                          3 |
| 2       | Bihar            |      1 |      0 |      0 |                          0 |
| 3       | Chhattisgarh     |      9 |      5 |      4 |                          7 |
| 4       | Delhi            |      3 |      2 |      0 |                          0 |
| 5       | Gujarat          |      0 |      2 |      0 |                          2 |
| 6       | Haryana          |      0 |      4 |      0 |                          1 |
| 7       | Himachal Pradesh |     13 |     13 |     15 |                          8 |
| 8       | Karnataka        |      0 |      4 |      1 |                          1 |
| 9       | Kerala           |      1 |      0 |      0 |                          1 |
| 10      | Madhya Pradesh   |      0 |      7 |      1 |                         13 |
| 11      | Maharashtra      |      1 |      3 |      0 |                          8 |
| 12      | Odisha           |      2 |      8 |      3 |                          2 |
| 13      | Punjab           |     11 |      0 |      0 |                          0 |
| 14      | Rajasthan        |      2 |      0 |      1 |                          1 |
| 15      | Tamil Nadu       |      1 |      1 |      0 |                          0 |
| 16      | Telangana        |      0 |      1 |      0 |                          0 |
| 17      | Uttar Pradesh    |      6 |      5 |      1 |                          0 |
| 18      | Uttrakhand       |      4 |     26 |     15 |                         15 |
| 19      | West Bengal      |      7 |      2 |      2 |                          4 |
|         | Total            |     64 |     83 |     47 |                         66 |