As many as 149 leopards have died in Madhya Pradesh in the last 14 months, according to information obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey.
It stated that the leopard deaths were reported between January 2025 and March 2026.
The figures have raised serious concerns about wildlife safety and infrastructure planning.
Road accidents identified as leading cause
Data shows that road and highway accidents are the biggest cause of deaths, accounting for around 31 per cent of fatalities. Approximately 46 leopards were killed in vehicle collisions, including 19 deaths on highways alone.
Wildlife experts say that increasing road networks passing through forest areas have significantly contributed to these incidents.
Other causes of leopard deaths in MP
Apart from accidents, several other factors have contributed to the deaths –
– Natural causes such as disease and old age: 24 per cent (36 deaths)
– Intraspecies conflict (territorial fights): 21 per cent (31 deaths)
– Poaching and retaliatory killings: 14 per cent (21 deaths)
– Undetermined causes: 9 per cent (13 deaths)
– Electrocution: around 1 per cent (8 deaths)
Some deaths were also linked to traps and snares allegedly set by poachers.
Concerns over infra, habitat loss
Experts have pointed out that many deaths occurred near highways and other infrastructure projects cutting through important forest corridors. These “linear infrastructure” developments often disrupt animal movement and increase the risk of accidents.
Leopards are also increasingly found near human settlements, which raises the chances of conflict, vehicle collisions and accidental electrocution.
Activist raises alarm
Ajay Dubey described the situation as alarming, stating that such a high number of deaths reflects poor implementation of wildlife protection measures.
He said that while the state is known for its strong wildlife reputation, the rising number of leopard deaths highlights gaps in safety planning and enforcement of conservation guidelines.
Dubey said, “The staggering loss of 149 leopards in just 14 months reveals a grim reality for Madhya Pradesh. While the state takes pride in its ‘Tiger State’ status, it has inadvertently become a graveyard for leopards. The fact that nearly one-third of these deaths are caused by road accidents underscores a systemic failure to implement safe corridors and hold linear infrastructure projects accountable to NTCA protocols. We are not just losing animals; we are losing the balance of our ecosystem to negligence.”