Rising Panther Population and Declining Faunal Diversity: A Growing Crisis for Udaipur
Leopards Are Increasingly Depending on Human-Linked Food Sources Instead of Natural Forest Ecosystems
Udaipur: “The identity of the city of lakes and hills is defined not only by its natural beauty but also by its rich biodiversity. Nestled in the Aravalli hills, the region still possesses considerable floral diversity, meaning a wide variety of vegetation. However, faunal diversity — the diversity of wildlife species — is steadily weakening. This imbalance is now emerging as the biggest cause of increasing human-wildlife conflict in Udaipur and surrounding areas.”
These concerns were highlighted during a seminar organized jointly by Green People Society and the Forest Department on the occasion of International Biodiversity Day. Participants emphasized the importance of taking effective action at the local level that can create a wider global impact.
Senior forest officials Sedu Ram Yadav, Sunil Chidri, Mukesh Saini, Green People Society President Rahul Bhatnagar, Suhail Majboor, Shaitan Devda, and Yadvendra Chundawat expressed concern over the increasing leopard population in the Udaipur region alongside the declining number of herbivorous animals. They stressed the urgent need to restore ecological balance.
Shyam Dave gave a detailed presentation on biodiversity through a PowerPoint presentation. Environmentalist Prof. Mahesh Sharma drew the attention of officials by stating that according to official estimates, there were around 130 leopards in the district last year, while retired senior forest officers estimate the number to be between 700 and 1,000. He said that under such circumstances, the debate over whether leopard numbers have increased or not becomes meaningless.
He explained that an adult leopard requires an average of 40–50 large prey animals annually, whereas Udaipur’s forests currently have sufficient prey for only about 30–35 leopards. He pointed out that the deaths of 10 people last year, attacks on dozens of domestic animals, and the frequent movement of leopards into villages and urban areas are all consequences of this ecological imbalance.
“We count the number of leopards, but we fail to assess whether adequate food is available for them,” he remarked.
Forest officials stated that populations of spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, rabbits, and other small wildlife species are continuously declining in the forests. As a result, panthers are increasingly venturing into villages, settlements, and city outskirts in search of food. Sightings of panthers in rural and semi-urban areas of Udaipur have now become a common occurrence. Attacks on livestock are increasing, and in several places, human lives have also come under threat.
Officials emphasized that this is not merely a challenge for the Forest Department but a serious concern for the ecological balance of the entire region. They added that the irony is that forests are often assessed only by the number of trees. A forest may appear green and dense, but if prey species disappear, it can no longer sustain top predators like leopards as a living ecosystem.
Wildlife experts warned that unless serious efforts are made soon to restore faunal diversity, the situation could worsen in the coming years. If the leopard population continues to grow without a corresponding increase in natural prey, conflicts will intensify further. Fear in villages, insecurity among farmers, and aggressive wildlife behavior could together create a major future crisis.
Udaipur today stands at a critical turning point. If biodiversity continues to be understood merely as greenery, the ecological balance of the Aravalli region may face severe disruption in the future. Nature’s balance is maintained not just by trees, but by the entire chain of life that exists among them — including both the leopard and its prey.
During the seminar, Shaitansingh Devda, Sanjay Gupta, Vinod Rai, Veerpal Rana, Yasin Pathan, Dr. Lalit Joshi, Dr. Vijay Kohli, Dr. Suman Bhatnagar, Aniruddh Chundawat, and Ms. Preeti Murdia also shared their views.
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