Research Article:  Shivakumar, S., Athreya, V., Yardi, N., Odden, M., Dhiman, S. P., & Karanth, K. K. (2025). Charting risk pathways of leopard attacks on people: A decision tree approach. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 1-18 

Blog Author: Yashendu Chinmayee Joshi

Key Takeaways: 

  • Since the 1950s, large carnivores have caused significant human injuries and fatalities worldwide, with over 5000 reported incidents.
  • Researchers analyzed 344 leopard attacks over 11 years to assess risks and impacts in Himachal Pradesh
  • 74% of leopard attacks were non-predatory and resulted in minor injuries.
  • Adolescents under 15 years faced higher risks, often experiencing severe outcomes.
  • These incidents impacted daily routines, with many avoiding outdoor activities like farming and sending children outside due to fear and trauma.
  • This study provides evidence and highlights the concerns of affected communities, by offering data-driven solutions to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.

In the state of Himachal Pradesh, in northern India, leopards are a common sight, sharing space with local communities. However, living alongside such big cats comes at a cost to human safety and lives. Shivakumar et al. assessed the spatial and temporal patterns of human-wildlife interactions, over a period of 11 years, to understand the risks and impacts better.

Their results indicate that three-quarters of attacks (74%) were not predatory, meaning leopards did not view humans as prey but attacked for other reasons, such as defense or shock due to sudden encounters. These non-predatory incidents mostly resulted in minor injuries. Although these predatory incidents were less common, their severity was higher, especially on children below 15 years of age, causing fatal injuries.  The authors suggest that this could be due to their smaller size, resembling the typical prey profile.

Interestingly, the study found that the likelihood of a severe outcome was higher in areas further from known leopard conflict zones. This underscores the need for understanding changing patterns of human-wildlife interactions, to mitigate and reduce their impacts for all stakeholders.

An important outcome of the study was people’s perceptions towards conflicts. Overwhelming number of participants expressed a sense of fear and other challenges in living alongside leopards.  A positive finding was that people have adapted and found ways of overcoming the conflict with leopards..

In summary, the study provides invaluable insight and offers evidence-based solutions to address human-wildlife conflicts, not only in HP, but also in other parts of India.  The study is extremely timely, considering the steady expansion of human-dominated landscapes, into wildlife habitats. The recommendations of the authors will certainly provide policymakers, conservationists, and local forest officials to develop science-driven strategies to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.

You can access the original article here. 

 

Key Words: conflict, Indian himalayas, leopards, wildlife risk