Saikat Kumar Basu
The recurrent reports of human-leopard conflicts across India are a sad reality; alarming wildlife enthusiasts around the globe. Till date no comprehensive conservation plan has been implemented in the country for the endangered Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) unlike the tigers and lions. Habitat loss, habitat encroachments and fragmentation, poaching, lack of sufficient prey base in their traditional habitats, unfortunate road and rail accidents and regular conflicts with humans are predominant factors seriously endangering the leopard population of the country.
No authentic census data is also available for the same for decades. Hence, it is high time that some long term plan be designed and implemented for successful conservation of this majestic species before it is too late. Similarly, the case of endangered Indian or the Himalayan snow leopard (Uncia uncia uncioides) needs to be highlighted too.
The wild Indian population is sadly estimated around 200-600 only. The snow leopard captive breeding program at the Padmaja Naidu Zoological Garden at Darjeeling, WB is a premier, state of the art and internationally recognized conservation center for the snow leopards in the country.
The Indian snow leopard is considered to be the one of the two sub species reported from Eurasia; the other being distributed in Russia and Mongolia. Their habitat in India stretches across the mighty Himalayas from the entire west to east stretch also including adjoining Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan.
The species is also found in the mountainous reaches of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia, The snow leopard habitats in India are being reported to be fragmented due to anthropogenic pressures, poaching, illegal wildlife trade for snow leopard skin and conflicts with local shepherds for hunting domestic livestock. Education and awareness of the indigenous communities regarding the value of snow leopard as top predator in the Himalayan ecosystem needs to be emphasized along with robust conservation measures for protecting this elusive predator in its snowy abode.
A paradigm shift is now necessary in our conservation initiatives for protecting the top predators of India.
