Odisha News, Odisha Latest news, Odisha Daily - OrissaPOST
  • Home
  • Trending
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Feature
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • More..
    • Odisha Special
    • Editorial
    • Opinion
    • Careers
    • Sci-Tech
    • Timeout
    • Horoscope
    • Today’s Pic
  • Video
  • Epaper
  • News in Odia
  • Home
  • Trending
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Feature
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • More..
    • Odisha Special
    • Editorial
    • Opinion
    • Careers
    • Sci-Tech
    • Timeout
    • Horoscope
    • Today’s Pic
  • Video
  • Epaper
  • News in Odia
No Result
View All Result
OrissaPOST - Odisha Latest news, English Daily -
No Result
View All Result

Leopard population on rise in Mahanadi Wildlife Division

PNN
Updated: August 18th, 2025, 10:03 IST
in State, Top Stories
0
Leopard
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on Linkedin

Nayagarh: The population of leopards is on the rise in Mahanadi wildlife division of Nayagarh district, Forest officials said. Once counted at 17, the number of leopards has now climbed to 35. Alongside the growth in numbers, reports suggest the presence of rare melanistic leopards in the division.

During the 2023 tiger census in the state, a camera trap in the Mahanadi Wildlife Division captured images of a black leopard, a rare genetic variant. Environmentalists and locals expressed happiness after reports indicated that more than one black tiger may be roaming the forests of Nayagarh.

Also Read

Union Minister Jual Oram

Union Minister Jual Oram expresses confidence in NDA’s win in Bihar polls

1 hour ago

Low pressure over Bay of Bengal to bring rain to Odisha for three days: IMD

2 hours ago

However, Forest authorities have maintained secrecy over the findings and clarified that presence of only one black leopard has been officially confirmed. The first recorded sighting of a black leopard in Odisha was in 2015. It was again spotted in 2021 through camera traps in the Banigochha (West) forest range of Daspalla.

Also Read: Viral video: Cornered by wild boars, leopard pulls off bold move; watch now

The then Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Sushant Nanda, highlighted the rare occurrence on social media, sparking wider attention in November 2023. Later that year, the animal was again captured by camera traps in the Chhamundia forest area under Gania block.

In 2015 and 2022, authorities had referred to the animal as a “black cheetah,” a description carried in the media. But in 2023, officials confirmed it to be a black-coloured leopard, strengthening reports of a unique and rare lineage thriving in the Nayagarh forests.

According to the 2017-18 tiger census, Nayagarh was home to 17 leopards. The census, conducted every four years, was last held in 2021-22. However, the exact number of animals was not disclosed.

On the other hand, the enumeration of tigers is also carried out in June and December every year. Authorities use trap cameras to track the population of tigers, the rare melanistic tiger, elephants and other wildlife.

The Mahanadi Wildlife Division has now estimated that by 2025, the forest area could house 30-35 leopards, including one melanistic. Yet, from 2017 to 2025, no comprehensive data is available on the total population of the big cats or the number of animal deaths in the division.

“We currently have one black leopard and 30 to 35 regular leopards in our forest,” said Amaresh Pradhan, Divisional Forest Officer of the Mahanadi Wildlife Division. “The department is focusing on preventing poaching of tigers and other wildlife. I am new to this post, but priority is being given to ensuring the animals’ safety,” he added. However, repeated seizures of leopard hides from the Daspalla range have raised troubling questions as to which jungle these leopards are being poached in.

Authorities are yet to determine whether the poaching is taking place inside the Mahanadi Wildlife Division, Nayagarh Forest Division, or other adjoining forests. The failure to trace the kingpins behind the poaching networks has further fuelled allegations that wildlife protection efforts are being compromised.

Wildlife activists have accused the Forest and Wildlife departments of negligence, pointing out that the Odisha Police’s Special Task Force (STF) has seized tiger hides in multiple operations from Daspalla forest range without the knowledge of the local forest authorities.

The failure to trace the kingpins behind the poaching networks has further fuelled allegations that wildlife protection efforts are being compromised. Over the past five years, the STF has seized more than seven hides of the felines in Nayagarh alone.

In a recent case about two months ago, the STF recovered the hide of a 10-year-old leopard killed in Banigochha and arrested two accused, identified as Gangadhar Nayak and Rakesh Nayak.

PNN

Tags: LeopardMahanadi wildlife divisionNayagarh
ShareTweetSendShare
Suggest A Correction

Enter your email to get our daily news in your inbox.

 

OrissaPOST epaper Sunday POST OrissaPOST epaper

Click Here: Plastic Free Odisha

#MyPaperBagChallenge

Geetanjali Patro

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Ramakanta Sahoo

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Faiza Firdous

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Ipsita

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Sarmistha Nayak

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Matrumangal Jena

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Tabish Maaz

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Debasis Mohanty

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Tapaswini Mallick

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Pitabas Tripathy

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Ramakanta Sahoo

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Priyabrata Mohanty

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Manas Samanta

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Narendra Kumar

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Swarit Praharaj

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Subhajyoti Mohanty

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Pratyasharani Ghibela

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Spinoj Pattnaik

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Aishwarya Ranjan Mohanty

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

D Rama Rao

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Jyotshna Mayee Pattnaik

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Archit Mohapatra

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Chinmay Kumar Routray

December 12, 2019
?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Dibya Ranjan Das

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Surya Sidhant Rath

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Akshaya Kumar Dash

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Diptiranjan Biswal

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Anup Mahapatra

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Jhili Jena

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Pratik Kumar

December 12, 2019

Archives

Editorial

Trumpian Dilemma

October 20, 2025

After showing admirable and decisive toughness in defusing the crisis in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump has been...

Read moreDetails

Empty Ambition

Rights & Restrictions: AAKAR PATEL
October 19, 2025

When was the last time you read or saw something about India and the G20? And what do you recall...

Read moreDetails

Market Power

Power of Continuity
October 18, 2025

The power corridors are abuzz again, but not over taxes or budgets this time. Eyeballs are fixed on who’ll get...

Read moreDetails

Historic Deal

Trump, Netanyahu
October 15, 2025

There is no doubt the way fighting in Gaza was ended and a peace process set in motion in the...

Read moreDetails
  • Home
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
Developed By Ratna Technology

© 2025 All rights Reserved by OrissaPOST

  • News in Odia
  • Orissa POST Epaper
  • Video
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Metro
  • State
  • Odisha Special
  • National
  • International
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Editorial
  • Entertainment
  • Horoscope
  • Careers
  • Feature
  • Today’s Pic
  • Opinion
  • Sci-Tech
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs

© 2025 All rights Reserved by OrissaPOST

    • News in Odia
    • Orissa POST Epaper
    • Video
    • Home
    • Trending
    • Metro
    • State
    • Odisha Special
    • National
    • International
    • Sports
    • Business
    • Editorial
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscope
    • Careers
    • Feature
    • Today’s Pic
    • Opinion
    • Sci-Tech
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Jobs

    © 2025 All rights Reserved by OrissaPOST