‘Marauding army’: Officials raise alarm over Bijnor’s rising leopard numbers

Officials in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, are expressing growing concern over a rapidly expanding leopard population in the district. Forest officials describe the situation as akin to a "marauding army" that could wreak havoc if left unchecked. According to a senior forest official, if the leopard numbers are not controlled, they could enter urban areas and pose a threat to people.

A 2024 survey estimates there are currently 444 leopards in Bijnor, a district spanning 4,000 square kilometers, and warns that this number could triple in just five years if not managed. This surge in leopard activity has caused 11 deaths and injured 30 people in attacks this year alone. The problem is particularly acute in neighboring Moradabad, where 7 people have died and 21 have been injured by leopards this year.

The leopards are drawn to the sugarcane fields that cover nearly half of Bijnor's agricultural land, providing them with ample habitat and prey. The state government has proposed a sterilization program as a potential solution, but officials warn that capturing and relocating leopards may be necessary to control the population.