Tamil Nadu Government Implements Surveillance Systems in Mettur, Salem to Track Leopards

Chennai, March 27 (NationPress) The Tamil Nadu forest department has implemented a system of surveillance cameras and established cages in Mettur village of Salem district in response to reports from locals regarding leopard sightings and livestock attacks in the area.

Residents and farmers from Mettur and surrounding locales such as Vanniyanur, Kaveripuram, and Kathiripatti have expressed their worries after a leopard was reportedly spotted hunting local livestock, including goats, dogs, and chickens.

Acting on these concerns, forest officials visited the area and confirmed the presence of a leopard behind the recent livestock attacks by examining the animal footprints.

To safeguard the public, forest officials have advised villagers to stay indoors during the night and to refrain from sleeping outside. Special alerts have been issued for children and the elderly. Farmers have also been cautioned against taking their livestock into forested areas for grazing until the leopard is captured or relocated.

The department has begun efforts to trap the animal and relocate it to a distant forest area, addressing the residents’ requests.

Tamil Nadu has experienced a significant growth in its leopard population. The 2022 census released in March 2024 by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) reported a 23 percent increase in leopard numbers, rising from 868 in 2018 to 1,070 in 2022. Nationally, the leopard population rose by 8 percent, from 12,852 to 13,874 during the same timeframe.

Leopards, classified as a vulnerable species and a crucial component of the ecosystem, are encountering increasing challenges due to habitat loss, forest fragmentation, and human-wildlife conflict. The NTCA census, conducted in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and various state forest departments, focused on forest habitats in tiger range states to monitor tigers, co-predators like leopards, prey species, and overall habitat health.

The report indicates that over 65 percent of leopards in the Western Ghats reside outside protected areas, making them more susceptible to conflicts with human populations. The Nilgiris region was identified as a hotspot for leopards, boasting a density of 13 leopards per 100 square kilometers. The Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) recorded the highest leopard population in Tamil Nadu, with 135 individuals, plus an additional 220 leopards using the reserve area. The Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) followed with 131 leopards and another 190 utilizing the forest. The Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) ranked third with 121 leopards. Other tiger reserves, such as Kalakad Mundanthurai (KMTR) and Srivilliputhur-Megamalai (SMTR), also demonstrated notable leopard presence. KMTR is home to 51 leopards, with another 87 utilizing the area, while SMTR has 97 resident leopards and 147 others utilizing the region.

Officials from the Tamil Nadu Forest Department clarified that the leopard census was part of the 2022 tiger census but was conducted using a different methodology tailored for estimating leopard populations. This enumeration was not confined to tiger reserves alone but extended to reserve forests across the state.

A senior forest official credited the rise in leopard numbers to enhanced forest protection, improved monitoring systems, and strict anti-poaching measures. Officials also noted that in various regions, tigers and leopards coexist without significant conflict, largely influenced by prey availability and forest type.