Leopard
Leopard
Instances of leopards entering human habitats in the state are witnessing a rise with 57 such cases being reported since January this year.

Wildlife experts have attributed these break-ins behind decline in prey base in the jungles and healthy rise in the number of big cats. Gradual encroachment in forest areas is also another cause behind the rise in numbers of leopard-human conflicts in state, said the experts.

Vipul Maurya, a wildlife scholar who carried out a research on leopard-human conflict alongside Alaknanda river said, "The prey base has declined in forests so the leopards are increasingly venturing near vicinity of villages with agricultural activities. Such areas provide food and water for the animal in sufficient quantities for it to thrive."

According to various studies leopards are more active during the night but these elusive big cats have also been spotted during early morning hours between 4.30am and 5.30am.

"Most of the conflict cases are reported from the hilly regions in the state and have been reported during this time frame in the morning. The habits of the animal have registered a change due to many factors which include explosion in human populace and subsequent encroachment of its habitat, shrinking of prey base and increase in leopard population," said AG Ansari, a wildlife conservationist.

In 2015, the first ever count of leopards conducted alongside 2014 tiger census has put the spotted cat population at 7,910 in and around tiger habitats across the country, except the northeast. In Uttarakhand, the number of leopards stands at 703, but the report also added that the actual number could be higher by 300-400 because the census did not cover the higher Himalayan region.