Uttarakhand’s Leopard Enigma: Research Uncovers Shifting Behavior & Rising Conflict
Uttarakhand leopard behavior : 3115 Leopards Roam Uttarakhand’s Forests; Changing Behavior Becomes a Research Subject
535 Lives Lost Since State Formation, over two thousand people have been injured
Uttarakhand leopard behavior : Dehradun, July 28, 2025: No one could have imagined that a spring evening in 2011 would turn so horrific. In a village in Rikhanikhal block of Pauri district, enraged villagers poured kerosene and set fire to a leopard trapped in a cage. The forest department stood helpless before the furious mob. This wasn’t an isolated incident; some years ago, villagers in Dehradun district also bludgeoned a leopard to death. Similar stories are frequently heard from other states across India.
Looking at the plight of Uttarakhand, which is grappling with the pain of migration, wild animals are a major reason for the deserted villages. As many as 1726 villages have become completely uninhabited in the state. Crops are being ruined, and lives are also in danger.
Leopards, whose changing behavior has become a subject of research in the world of wild animals, have become a symbol of terror in Uttarakhand. According to a report, 3115 leopards are roaming the forests of Uttarakhand. On average, this means 239 leopards per district. Since the formation of Uttarakhand after separating from Uttar Pradesh, between the years 2000 and 2024, tigers and leopards have preyed on 640 people. Among these, leopards alone have taken 535 lives, averaging 22 lives every year. During the same period, 2069 people were injured in leopard attacks.
It’s a subject of research that the maximum number of people fell victim to leopards in these 24 years during 2003 and 2020. In these years, the numbers were 33 and 30, respectively. This data is also startling. The renowned hunter Lakhpat Rawat once stated in an interview, regarding the changing behavior of leopards, that this solitary animal has now started living in groups. Not only that, leopards are being sighted near human settlements even during the daytime. Whereas previously they only emerged at night.
The concerning aspect is that leopards are heading not only to villages but also to cities. In recent years, cases of leopard attacks have been reported in several places including Dehradun, Haridwar, Bijnor, Meerut, Greater Noida, Bareilly, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Pilibhit. It’s true that putting your head in a lion’s mouth is not wise, but if a lion comes to your doorstep, you have to manage the situation. We need both forests and wildlife, but something must be done to ensure life remains safe
(Photo Courtesy: Raju Pushola)
