Lok Sabha Question No. 3853 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-09
Subject: Leopard Census
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KALIKESH NARAYAN SINGH DEO

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3853

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2016

## Leopard Census

## 3853.       SHRI KALIKESH N. SINGH DEO:

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

- (a)   the  number  of  leopards  in  the  country  as  per  the  national  leopard  census  along  with  the methodology used for conducting the same;
- (b)  whether the census has helped evaluate the condition of leopard habitats across the country, if so, the details and findings thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether the Government has undertaken measures to reduce the intensity of human-leopard conflicts, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)   whether instances of poaching of leopard have increased in the last three years and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the steps/measures taken by the Government to curb the same?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) and (b) Ministry  has  not  undertaken  any  national  leopard  census  in  the  country.  However, during the national level estimation of tiger population by Wildlife Institute of India, an  effort  was  also  made  to  estimate  the  leopard  populations  across  the  tiger  range States  using  capture-recapture  frame  work  using  camera  traps.  In  addition  to  the population  estimates,  this  effort  has  helped  to  understand  the  condition  of  leopard habitat  across  the  tiger  range  states  and  reported  that  some  of  the  studied  areas  are deficient in prey of leopard.

The number of leopards during 2014 population estimation in forested habitats of tiger range states is reported to be around in the range of 6566-9181.

- (c) Management of wildlife, including conflict situations is primarily the responsibility of respective  State  Governments.  Proposals  for  handling  of  human  wildlife  conflict

including human-leopard conflicts are part of the Annual Plans of Operation from the States seeking Central assistance for management of Wildlife.

As per the Annual Plans of Operation of the States, the Central Government provides partial  Central  assistance  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  of  'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats' to the States inter alia for providing ex-gratia relief to the victims of wild animal attack, and for construction/erection of physical barriers, habitat improvement etc. to prevent the entry of wild animals into human habitations and also for setting up of anti-depredation squads to drive away problematic animals.

In addition, the Ministry has issued 'Guidelines for human-leopard conflict management' in 2011.  Ministry  also  undertakes  various  stake  holder  workshops  and consultations for the management of human wildlife conflict.

- (d) and (e) As per the available records with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) of the Ministry, the incidents of leopard poaching are decreasing. The number of cases of recovery of body parts of leopards for the last three years and current year, as per the available records of the WCCB, based on the information received from State Forest and Police departments are as below:-

| Year         |   2013 |   2014 |   2015 |   2016(up to 30.6.2016) |
|--------------|--------|--------|--------|-------------------------|
| No. of cases |     95 |     63 |     49 |                      23 |

Ministry, through WCCB is taking the following steps to curb the poaching:-

- (i). Collection, collation and dissemination of intelligence on illegal trafficking of wildlife  and  its  parts  as  well  as  wildlife  crime  to  various  agencies  for apprehension of criminals.
- (ii). Coordination of inter-agency enforcement efforts in combating illegal wildlife crime.
- (iii). Sensitization and capacity building of agencies in enforcement of the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. WCCB trained 1254 forest & police officials in 2013-14, 798 in 2014-2015, 1009 in 2015-16 and 309 in 2016-17 (up to 30.06.2016) in investigation of wildlife crimes.
- (iv). Awareness and education campaigns for various stakeholders, 2249 officials of BGFs, CISF, Coast Guard, DRI, Customs, forest police and judiciary etc. were sensitized about wildlife laws and related issues in 2013-14, 5927 in 2014-15, 2810 in 2015-16 and  396 in 2016-17 (up to 30.06.16). Apart from this 1235 PRI  representation and villagers around  the tiger reserves attended the awareness programmes in 2013-14, 1596 in 2014-15, 2425 in 2015-16 and 45 have so far attended in 2016-17 up to 30.06.16.
- (v). Joint  operations  with  state  enforcement  agencies  to  apprehend  criminals involved in illegal wildlife crime.
- (vi). Providing assistance to state enforcement agencies in investigation and prosecution of wildlife crime cases.
- (vii). The WCCB has collated criminal profiles of 919 wildlife criminals involved in the wildlife crime cases. Based on these profiles the WCCB has prepared a list of accused involved in poaching and illegal trade in tiger/leopard body parts;

and the same has been circulated to concerned State and Central Agencies to maintain  strict  vigil  over  their  movements  and  activities.  This  list  is  being updated regularly.

- (viii). The  WCCB  is  issuing  alerts  and  advisories  on  hunting  and  illegal  trade  of wildlife to concerned Central and State Agencies for preventive action.
- (ix). The  WCCB  has  brought  out  the  following  publications  for  the  capacity building of the field officers of relevant enforcement agencies'
- (x). Handbook  for  wildlife  crime  investigation  officers  on  wildlife          crime investigation.
- (xi). X-Ray  Manual  of  wildlife  products  in  illegal  trade  Identification  Manual  of Wildlife Species in trade.

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