Leopard poaching on the rise

Human-leopard conflict is also on the rise. In Andhra Pradesh, since April 2001, 21 leopards that entered villages and cities faced poisoning or death by stoning. The leopards were forced to leave their forest homes due to scorching summer temperatures that caused waterholes to dry up. 

Wildlife officials suggest that for every tiger that is poached, 10 leopards probably lose their lives. Only a small percentage of the total number of leopard skins, bones and claws obtained by traders for sale in Far Eastern markets are actually seized. In 2003, 581 leopard skins were confiscated from traders in Tibet. Not surprisingly, investigations in the Lhasa and Linxia regions of Tibet reveal that the majority of the skins and bones originated from India.

June 2008