596 leopard deaths were linked to illegal wildlife trade activities between 2015-19

A recent study by TRAFFIC India on the seizure and mortality of ‘common leopards’ (Panthera pardus fusca) revealed that of the total of 747 leopard deaths between 2015-2019 in India, 596 were linked to illegal wildlife trade and activities related to poaching.

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Key-Points

TRAFFIC is a leading wildlife trade monitoring network across the world.

The paper titled ‘‘SPOTTED’ in Illegal Wildlife Trade: A Peek into Ongoing Poaching and Illegal Trade of Leopards in India’ also said that the highest numbers of poaching incidents were reported from the States of Uttarakhand and Maharashtra.

During the period 2015 to 2019, there were more than 140 cases of seizures of leopard body parts in Uttarakhand, and about 19 incidents where the deaths of these cats could be directly linked to poaching.

Among all the derivatives found in illegal wildlife trade, skin remained the most in-demand product, accounting to 69% of all seizures, while derivatives like claws, teeth and bones were also traded.

About TRAFFIC

It is the leading non-governmental organisation working globally on the trade of wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity and sustainable development.

It was founded in 1976 as a strategic alliance of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The organisation’s aim is to ‘ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature’.

TRAFFIC’s work involves research, publication of influential reports, projects, education, outreach and advocacy on the issue of wildlife trade.