12 Leopards Died in State This Year; Highest in a Decade

The state has recorded the highest number of leopard deaths in a decade this year, with 12 fatalities reported till August 2025, according to forest department data.

- Varsha Somaraj @T'Puram

Between July 2015 and August 2025, a total of 92 leopards, including adults, sub-adults, and juveniles, have died due to natural causes, infighting, snaring, poisoning, hunting, electrocution, and vehicle hits.

The toll was spread across almost every district, but the highest losses were in Palakkad with 34 deaths, followed by Wayanad with 20 and Thrissur with eight. Idukki recorded six deaths, Kottayam five, and Ernakulam four. Thiruvananthapuram reported three, the same as Malappuram and Kasaragod, while Kollam and Pathanamthitta had two each. Kozhikode and Kannur recorded one each.