As per records available with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), 63 incidents were reported in 2014 and 49 in 2015 Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Anil Dave informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply t a question yesterday.

While the Ministry has not undertaken any national leopard census in the country, during the national level estimation of tiger population by Wildlife Institute of India, an effort was also made to estimate the leopard populations across the tiger range States.

In addition to the population estimates, this effort has helped to understand the condition of leopard habitat across the tiger range states and reported that some of the studied areas are deficient in prey.

The number of leopards during 2014 population estimation in forested habitats of tiger range states is reported to be around in the range of 6,566 -- 9,181, he said.

Mr. Dave said management of wildlife, including conflict situations, was primarily the responsibility of respective State Governments. Proposals for handling of human-wildlife conflict, including human-leopard conflicts, are part of the Annual Plans of Operation from the States seeking Central assistance for management of wildlife.

As per the Annual Plans of Operation of the States, the Central Government provides partial Central assistance under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats' to the States inter alia for providing ex-gratia relief to the victims of wild animal attack, and for construction/erection of physical barriers, habitat improvement and so on to prevent the entry of wild animals into human habitations and also for setting up of anti-depredation squads to drive away problematic animals.

In addition, the Ministry has issued “Guidelines for human-leopard conflict management” in 2011. The Ministry also undertakes various stake holder workshops and consultations for the management of human wildlife conflict, Mr. Dave added.