Bengaluru’s Leopard Crisis: Rescue Centre Overwhelmed by Growing Numbers

At Bengaluru’s Bannerghatta Rescue Centre, a young leopard cub paces nervously in its small 3x3m enclosure, part of a growing population of leopards in captivity. The centre, built in 1999 to handle wildlife rescues, is now struggling to accommodate a rapidly increasing number of leopards.

For the first time in 25 years, the centre has surpassed its capacity, housing 64 leopards when it was only designed for fewer. While leopards’ natural territories span over 40 square kilometres in the wild, many are now confined to small spaces. The influx has been dramatic—eight leopards in 2020-21, 15 in 2022-23, and 23 in the following year, many captured from Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Tumakuru.

In response, the rescue centre is trying to hire more personnel and manage financial strains, with the cost of caring for a leopard amounting to Rs 1,200 per day. Many of these animals, labeled as “troublemakers” for attacking livestock, may spend their lives in captivity.

This rise in leopard numbers is linked to the increasing human-wildlife conflicts, as leopards are venturing into human habitation more frequently. However, some experts argue that social media panic plays a role in fueling unnecessary fear, as seen in 2016 when a leopard’s capture led to widespread commotion.

With Karnataka’s growing leopard population, the challenge now lies in fostering coexistence between humans and these elusive creatures, whose habitats are being encroached upon by urbanisation and development.

Read Also: