According to the latest statistics released by the Uttarakhand Forest Department, at least 48 tigers, 544 leopards and 186 elephants have died in the State during the past 10 years due to different factors.

Though majority of the recorded deaths of these three species of animals have been attributed to natural factors, wildlife activists state that the increasing conflict between humans and wildlife is also a major factor causing the death of wildlife and impairment of environment in Uttarakhand.

Though various components of wildlife, including plants, birds and deer, have faced the negative effect of development, the fatalities of the three big animals found in the State, including elephants, tigers and leopards, during the past decade appear high with at least 778 deaths recorded. During this same time period, at least 302 persons were killed in confrontations with wild animals in Uttarakhand.

With at least 60 per cent of Uttarakhand's total geographical area under forest cover, the State is host to a rich biodiversity. Though Uttarakhand constitutes a very small portion of the total geographical area of India, it is enriched by 102 out of the total 381 mammal species, 625 out of 1,255 birds, 70 out of 447 reptiles and 19 out of 233 amphibian species found in India.

However, the environment in Uttarakhand is under severe stress due to increasing human population and the stress on urbanisation and development works like industrialisation.

As per the latest statistics released by the State Forest Department, out of tigers, elephants and leopards in Uttarakhand, the population of the spotted feline has suffered the most during the past decade. Out of the total 48 tiger deaths recorded in the state during the past decade, 36 are attributed to natural causes, nine to accidents and three to poaching. At least 544 leopard deaths were recorded during this time period, out of which 333 were attributed to natural factors, 157 to accidents and 54 to poaching.

Environmentalists state that it is alarming that at least 49 leopard deaths have been reported in the State in 2010 alone. Out of the 186 elephant deaths reported in the State in the past 10 years, 99 have been attributed to natural causes, 71 to accidents and 15 to poaching, whereas one was killed after being declared violent by the department.

Environmentalists state that though according to official statistics, natural causes are responsible for the majority of tiger, elephant and leopard deaths recorded in the State, the increasing pressure on the environment from human activities is also affecting the wildlife in Uttarakhand. During the past one decade a total of 302 persons have died in confrontations with wild animals in the State. During the past decade, 200 persons have died in confrontations with leopards, 77 have been killed by elephants, 13 by bears, 10 by tiger and two by wild boars in Uttarakhand.

The department has established wildlife rehabilitation centres for problem animals in Haridwar and Almora to tackle the human wildlife conflict.