Temporal Patterns of Leopard Predation on Livestock in Hamirpur District, Himachal Pradesh, India
Authors & Affiliations
Article Dates
RECEIVED
April 30, 2026
REVISED
June 30, 2026
ACCEPTED
July 01, 2026
AVAILABLE ONLINE
July 07, 2026
Abstract
Livestock depredation by leopards is widely reported across the Indian Himalayan region. This study investigated long-term trends in leopard-induced livestock depredation over 23 years (2001–2023) in Hamirpur District, Himachal Pradesh, a representative Shivalik Himalayan landscape. To our knowledge, this is one of the longest continuous assessments of leopard–livestock conflict in the Shivalik Himalayas. Data were obtained from official Forest Department compensation records and therefore represent reported depredation incidents rather than absolute predation rates. Mann–Kendall trend analysis revealed a significant decline in annual livestock mortality (Z = −2.01, p = 0.045), although occasional peaks occurred. A total of 1,420 livestock mortalities were recorded, comprising 1,195 (84.15%) small livestock and 225 (15.85%) large livestock. Among 1,079 reported depredation incidents, 744 (68.95%) occurred in animal sheds, 272 (25.21%) in private land/pasture areas, and 63 (5.84%) in forests. Seasonal mortalities were highest during summer (32.46%), followed by monsoon (26.41%), autumn (20.77%), and winter (20.35%). Hamirpur Range accounted for 73.73% of recorded livestock mortalities, followed by Aghar (12.96%), Barsar (8.31%), Nadaun (3.10%), and Bijhari (1.90%). Livestock predation was significantly associated with prey size, season, attack location, and forest range. The predominance of attacks in animal sheds highlights the importance of livestock husbandry practices in shaping human–leopard conflict. Predator-resistant enclosures, improved nighttime confinement, community-based mitigation measures, and continued long-term monitoring are recommended to reduce livestock losses and support coexistence between rural communities and leopards in the Shivalik Himalayan region.
Keywords
Hamirpur, Leopard, conflict, depredation, livestock, Himalayan
Classifications
Conservation ecology
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Cite As
Chandel, S., Sharma, B.P., Kumar, V., & Sankhyan, V. (2026). Temporal patterns of leopard predation on livestock in Hamirpur District, Himachal Pradesh, India. Indian Journal of Ecology, Online first publication. https://doi.org/10.55362/IJECOL/2026/0148