As many as six Royal Bengal Tigers (RBTs) and 49 leopards died in Odisha during the last ten years, informed Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Pradip Kumar Amat in the State Assembly on Tuesday.
Replying to a question of Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, the Minister said that out of the six RBTs, three were killed by poachers between 2012-13 and 2021-22.
Out of the 49 leopards, 26 were killed by poachers, he said.
Amat said that as per the 2018 survey conducted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Odisha has 28 RBTs and 760 leopards.
He said two tiger projects and anti-poaching camps have been established while special squads have been deployed and foot patrolling is being conducted.
Besides, meadows have been developed and steps are taken to prevent forest fires to increase the tiger population in the State, the Minister said.