The number of leopards has increased in Gujarat by over 20 per cent in the past five years from 1,160 to 1,395, said Gujarat Forest Department.
In the 2011 census, there were 1,160 leopards in the State in different forest areas, said a senior official, adding that but in the last census conducted in the year 2015 the number has increased to 1,395, said a senior official while making the census data public during a national workshop on Asiatic lions at Sasan on the outskirts of Gir Sanctuary in Saurashtra region.
Interestingly of the total leopards across the State, nearly 34 per cent are spotted in revenue areas, near to human habitats which is leading to human-wild animal conflict in the proximity of forest areas, especially in Saurashtra region. On the one hand it is encouraging that population of leopard and Asiatic lions have increased but on the other hand their strolling in the human habitat is dangerous for people residing near forest areas. In order to prevent human-wild cat conflict, the State forest department would require intensive management plan.
leopards are found in almost all the regions of Gujarat. As per the data the wild cats were spotted in Navsari, Bharuch and Valsad districts of South Gujarat, Sabarkantha and Mehsana in North Gujarat and Tapi district in Central Gujarat.