In no time, a speeding truck knocked it down. Ironically, a display board with the message, 'Beware, leopard crossing', meant for drivers, was probably the sole witness to the incident. witness to slow down their vehicles while moving on the stretch, was of little use.

Vehicular accidents are emerging to be the latest among a long list of threats facing leopards in the state today. In fact, casualties resulting from accidents are turning out to be as crucial as other concerns like poaching, revenge killing or habitat loss. For the record, leopards are categorized as a near-threatened species on the International Union of Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List.

A recent study conducted by Mysore-based Nature Conservation Society and Panthera in New York has found that between 2009 and 2014, 23 leopards died in road accidents in Karnataka. This boils down to one death in every three months. Also, 19 of the 23 big cats were killed outside protected areas, indicating road ecology in these areas aren't wildlife friendly. In fact, 9 of the 23 deaths were around Bangalore, in areas like Bannerghatta, Kaggalipura, Ramanagaram and Tumkur, pointing to the adverse impact of urban sprawl on wildlife. The team collated the data from forest department records and media reports.

Wildlife biologist Sanjay Gubbi, the study's lead author, told TOI, "We need wildlife-friendly infrastructure in identified locations, even outside protected areas, to avoid such casualties. This should include mitigation measures such as wildlife-crossing structures, rumble strips to reduce speed, and night closure of highways within the protected areas. Driver awareness could also help reduce such mortalities."

Experts say in India, the National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) specifically prescribes regulation and mitigation measures for threats posed by roads. "However, there have been few serious attempts to implement the policy on ground," says a wildlife expert.

Lessons to look at

Abroad, the topic of impact of roads on wildlife, termed 'road ecology', is much in vogue, especially in places like North America, Europe and Australia. Based on scientific studies, mitigation measures have been implemented in these countries, in both protected and unprotected areas, and the results have been positive. For instance, designing of overpasses and underpasses is based on wildlife movement in these places.

Wildlife biologist Sanjay Gubbi feels there's a need to start realigning highways and decommissioning existing roads from protected areas. "A classic example is the Mysore-Mananthavadi Road where a part of the highway has been realigned to avoid road kills. The government spent Rs 18 crore to develop the road outside the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve and the results have been positive," he says.

Leopards lost

2009-14

* 23 died in road accidents

* 19 of the 23 killed outside protected area

* 41 instances of skin seizures

* 21 died after getting trapped in snares set to catch wild prey

In fact, this study is the first leopard road kills data in the country and could be a benchmark to similar studies in other states.