149 leopards died in Madhya Pradesh in 14 months; accidents major cause
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Biodiversity & conservation· Prelims·
Why in news
The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department reported 149 leopard deaths over 14 months, primarily due to road accidents, sparking criticism from activist Ajay Dube regarding infrastructure accountability.
Background
Madhya Pradesh recorded 149 leopard deaths within a 14-month period. The Forest Department identified road accidents as the leading cause of mortality, linked to leopards' proximity to human habitats.
Facts for Prelims
- Fact149 leopards died in Madhya Pradesh over a period of 14 months.
- PlaceMadhya Pradesh is the state where the leopard mortality data was recorded.
- FactRoad accidents were identified as the primary cause of leopard fatalities in the state.
- FactThe Forest Department is implementing animal passages and signage on new roads to mitigate leopard deaths.
For Mains
Q. Discuss the challenges of balancing infrastructure development with wildlife conservation in regions of high human-wildlife conflict.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Habitat fragmentation: Increased leopard mortality due to proximity to human settlements and transport corridors.
- Accountability gap: Lack of institutional responsibility for wildlife deaths caused by infrastructure-related accidents.
- Mitigation trade-offs: Effectiveness of physical barriers like animal passages versus large-scale habitat preservation.
Keywords: Human-wildlife conflict · Habitat fragmentation · Biodiversity conservation · Infrastructure development · Wildlife mortality
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