With the incidents of human-wildlife conflict on the rise, Himachal Government has decided to undertake a comprehensive survey to assess the nature and extent of human-wildlife conflicts, focused on two species namely common leopard and Asiatic black bear across the state.

The first of its kind survey also aims at compiling baseline population data of common leopard and Asiatic black bear in the hill state.

At present, there is no data with the Himachal Forest Department regarding the population of black bears in the state while it was in the year 2004 when a leopard census was carried out and their population was estimated to be 761. However, the number of felines have seemingly increased since then as they are frequently being spotted near towns, suburbs and villages in the hill state.

The state has been witnessing an increase in human-wildlife encounters, which often results in panic and bloodshed. The incidents of attack on humans and domestic animals by leopards and black bears have increased in the hill state over the years.

“A comprehensive survey will be conducted to assess the nature and intensity of human-wildlife conflicts focused on mainly two species i.e. common leopard and Asiatic black bear. The survey aims at compiling the statistics on the number of leopards and black bears across Himachal, identify the reason and intensity of human-wildlife conflicts, its impact and strategies to mitigate such incidents,” said Himachal Principal Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Dr Archana Sharma while talking to The Pioneer.

Dr Sharma said at present, there is no data related to the population of black bears in the state. Under the survey, census exercises for both black bears and leopards will be conducted across Himachal.

The survey is also aimed at chalking out a conflict management strategy with species specific guidelines and help in mitigation of incidents of human-wildlife encounters in Himachal, she said.

This will be a two-year long survey and will be conducted with the assistance of a consultancy firm, she added.

The human-wildlife conflict has been in existence for as long as human and wild animals have shared the same landscapes and resources but the degradation of wildlife habitats and expansion of human activities have led to a rise in such conflicts. The issue has become a major concern for the Himachal Government.

Only a fortnight ago, a black bear had attacked a woman in Mcleodganj in Kangra district leaving her seriously injured. This was reportedly the second attack of a black bear in Mcleodganj in the recent past with the forest officials expressing concern over the sighting of black bear in summers near human habitation.

Instances of lifting of domestic animals by leopards and their sightings in human habitations have also increased in the recent past. Last month, a leopard had killed cows and a pet in Palampur.

Not only this, a leopard had attacked a man working in the forest adjoining Salana village near Shoghi, Shimla in December 2020, mauled a one-and-a-half-year-old baby at Shelai village in Shimla in October 2020 and killed another three-year-old girl in Summa village in Kullu in April 2020.

According to the official data till 2017, the state had witnessed at least 34 deaths due to leopard attacks since 2004. Also, 367 cases of injury to people have been reported over the same period, out of which 99 injuries were of grievous nature.

Notably, out of a total geographical area of 55,673 square kilometres, Himachal has a forest area of 66.52 per cent (37,033 sq km) and a forest cover of 27.72 per cent (15,433.52 sq km), as per the India State of Forest Report 2019.