Uttarakhand Leopard Attacks: Clear and Present Danger

In Uttarakhand, every month, cases of wildlife animals like leopards, tigers, and elephants attacking humans are reported. Among these, leopard attacks are the most frequent and severe. The ‘Living with Leopards’ programme, which has found success in Maharashtra, was launched in the Tehri and Pauri forest divisions in 2015-16 and in Narendra Nagar and Pithoragarh forest divisions in 2020 and 2022, respectively. The programme is reportedly   successful in Tehri and Pithoragarh but has failed in Pauri, which has been identified as a hotspot for leopard attacks. Mongabay-India correspondent Varsha Singh reports