Bhubaneswar: A total of six Royal Bengal Tigers and 49 leopards have died in the last 10 years in Odisha, state forest minister Pradip Amat said Tuesday in the Assembly. Out of the six dead tigers, three were killed by poachers, Pradip Amat stated.
Replying to a question by Congress leader Taraprasad Bahinipati, the minister said that as per 2018 data, Odisha had a total of 28 tigers.
Amat in his reply also said that from 2012-13 to 2021-22, 49 leopards have died in the state. Out of those, 26 were killed by poachers. Amat also stated that Odisha has approximately 760 leopards currently.
The minister informed steps are being taken to increase the tiger population in the state. He informed that two tiger projects have been set up in the state already. Besides this, anti-poaching camps have been set up and special squads have been deployed in the forest.
Amat further added that foot surveillance has been doubled in almost all the forests of Odisha. Besides, meadows have been set up in various districts to increase the population of herbivorous animals that the big cats prey on and eat. Also, efforts are on to prevent wildfires in core forest areas that are usually the habitats of the big cats.
PNN