THRISSUR:The leopard attacks on humans are on the rise in the Central parts of Kerala owing to the greater flexibility and adaptability of leopards near the human habitation, a study shows.
"Recently, the attacks on humans by leopards have been increasing in Central Kerala. In 2010, four persons were attacked in Valparai alone while in 2009 it was only one in Central Kerala. Four children, including Janani who got killed on Wednesday, succumbed to injuries in leopard attack in Valparai in the last two years," says Dr E A Jayson, Wildlife Biology, Kerala Forest Research Institute.According to Jayson who conducted the study, "Human wildlife conflicts in central Kerala," the declining number of natural prey within the forest limits, fragmentation of habitat and alteration of countryside, which creates suitable habitat for leopards, were forcing the animals to stray into human habitats. Besides these, cattlerearing in the forest fringes boosts the humanleopard conflict.
"In most cases, children and dogs are the easy victims of leopard attacks. The leopards would make no attempt on adult persons as they can defend well," Jaison says. The study was conducted in 12 forest ranges in Central Kerala. Humanleopard conflicts were reported from Palapilly, Peechi, Pariyaram, Athirapilly and Sholayar forest ranges. According to him: "Most of the attacks on humans are reported in Valparai which falls under Tamil Nadu limit. "Cattle lifting and leopard sightings were reported during the night hours whereas human casualties happened during evening time, he says. Fortytwo cases of leopard attacks on cattle were reported from the Chalakkudy forest division during 2003 and 2008.The unreported cases of leopard attack are also high and this happens when cattle are allowed to graze in open forests. Leopards consume prey entirely or they are dragged inside the forest and no evidence are left for claiming compensation in such cases. "It will be better to discourage cattlerearing in the fringe areas of forest to keep away the leopards from encroaching on human habitats. The modification of landscape should also be discouraged to create a suitable habitat for leopards," he said.
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