File Photo File Photo File Photo 1 2 Dehradun: Uttarakhand has lost 749 leopards and 86 tigers in the five years to 2020, according to data provided by the state forest department under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. This information was shared with Noida-based RTI activist Amit Gupta on January 19. To put the figures in perspective, about 235 tigers and about 1500 leopards have died since Uttarakhand was separated from UP in 2000, according to information given to TOI by the state forest department.

RTI data indicates that 2022 and 2024 were years with particularly high mortality rates for the large carnivores, during which the state recorded 22 deaths. 114 tigers and 114 leopards respectively. Expressing concern over wildlife conservation and monitoring, Gupta said the data points to gaps in investigation, post-mortem procedures and accountability.

“Unknown causes are also being reported in recent years, reflecting gaps in investigation mechanisms. Natural deaths remain consistently high, while frequent road and train accidents highlight the impact of erosion of linear infrastructure through forest areas and wildlife corridors,” he said.

19 in 2025. Of the total tiger deaths, seven were caused by road accidents, two by hunting, 21 by infighting, 40 by natural causes and 16 by unknown causes.

Leopard death figures show that there were 138 deaths in 2020, 108 in 2021, 121 in 2022, 134 in 2023, 146 in 2024 and 123 in 2024. 2025.

The causes are listed as 51 road accidents, 81 other accidents, six deaths due to entanglement, 140 deaths due to infighting, 185 due to natural causes and 255 due to unknown causes. Vivek Pandey, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Uttarakhand Forest Department, said, “The tiger and leopard population in Uttarakhand is continuously increasing due to the joint efforts of the forest department and local communities. The deaths whose cause cannot be conclusively determined are classified as ‘unknown’.