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.
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.
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
