Leopard Deaths in Kerala Raise Alarming Questions on India’s Wildlife Conservation
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala has recorded its worst year in a decade for leopard deaths, with 12 fatalities reported till August 2025, according to the latest forest department data.
This grim figure surpasses the previous peaks of 2020 and 2024, when 10 deaths each were recorded, underscoring the escalating crisis in India’s wildlife conservation.
Between July 2015 and August 2025, a total of 92 leopards—including adults, sub-adults, and juveniles—have perished due to a range of causes: natural deaths, territorial infighting, electrocution, poisoning, vehicle collisions, hunting, and most worryingly, snaring and trapping.
District-level data reveal that Palakkad has suffered the worst losses with 34 deaths, followed by Wayanad (20) and Thrissur (8). Idukki reported six, Kottayam five, Ernakulam four, while Thiruvananthapuram, Malappuram, and Kasaragod accounted for three each. Kollam and Pathanamthitta had two fatalities, while Kozhikode and Kannur reported one each.
This year’s toll includes six adults, two sub-adults, three juveniles, and one leopard of unidentified age. Among them, two were killed by snares and one by trapping. Officials note that snares—though mostly set for wild boars—indiscriminately kill other species, especially apex predators.
Wildlife researchers warn that snares cause prolonged suffering: animals often remain trapped for days, their frantic efforts tightening the noose, leading to internal bleeding and strangulation. By the time rescue teams arrive and attempt tranquillisation, the animal is already in critical condition.
Despite state-wide anti-snare drives, the menace continues. A senior forest officer lamented, “Conservation can only succeed with community participation. But unfortunately, some groups encourage snares in the name of ‘safety’. These traps are devastating for our ecosystems.”
Experts emphasize that while natural deaths are inevitable, preventable deaths due to human interference reflect systemic failure. India, despite having one of the largest wildlife protection staffs in the world, is struggling to secure its biodiversity.
Forest cover, especially in the Himalayan belt and Western Ghats, continues to shrink due to deforestation, urbanisation, mining, and infrastructure expansion. Instead of expanding forests, we are eroding them.
In contrast, African nations like Kenya and Tanzania deploy highly trained and fully dedicated ranger forces to patrol savannas and protect elephants, lions, rhinos, and leopards.
These rangers are not symbolic—they are full-time, empowered, and accountable. India, with its far richer biodiversity and larger population of endangered species, has yet to replicate such a system in its national parks and reserves.
Wildlife is not ornamental—it is fundamental to human survival. Predators like leopards regulate prey populations and ensure ecological balance. Their decline is a direct threat to food security, water resources, and climate resilience. Every leopard lost weakens the natural systems that humans themselves depend upon.
Conservationists and NGOs Call for Urgent Action
Leading conservationists, NGOs, and research bodies have expressed deep concern over the rising toll of leopards in Kerala. In a joint statement, they said:
“India cannot afford to treat such losses as routine statistics. Each death represents the weakening of ecosystems that sustain our farms, rivers, and cities.
We need an independent, well-equipped, and accountable wildlife protection force, similar to the ranger systems in African countries, that can patrol vulnerable areas, remove snares, monitor habitats, and respond in real-time to threats. Without systemic change, Kerala’s leopard crisis will repeat itself across other states and species.”
They also called for:
- Community-driven conservation models, where locals are partners, not adversaries.
- Strict anti-snare laws with heavy penalties and swift enforcement.
- Expansion of protected forest corridors, especially in the Himalayan and Western Ghats regions.
- Increased funding for research, rescue, and rehabilitation of big cats.
- Public awareness campaigns that make people understand that saving wildlife is saving themselves.
The statement concludes: “This is not just about leopards. This is about India’s future. If apex predators continue to vanish, our natural systems will collapse, and with them, our survival. The time to act is not tomorrow—it is now.”
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