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Why 94 tigers and leopards are locked up in Uttarakhand rescue centers with no space left
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News18•15-10-2026, 18:15
Why 94 tigers and leopards are locked up in Uttarakhand rescue centers with no space left
- •Currently, 73 leopards and 21 tigers are kept across five existing rescue centers in Uttarakhand.
- •According to Forest Department records, 1,320 people died in wildlife-related incidents from January 2000 to June 2026.
- •Rescue centers are heavily overloaded, with the Chidiyapur Center housing 24 leopards against a capacity of just 14 to 15.
- •The Forest Department has sent a proposal to the Central Zoo Authority to build 10 new regional rescue centers.
- •These new centers are planned for districts like Rudraprayag, Chamoli, and Bageshwar to improve wildlife management and treatment.
Key Questions Answered
Currently, 73 leopards and 21 tigers are housed across five existing rescue centers in Uttarakhand.
Existing rescue centers are overloaded because they hold far more animals than their designed capacity allows. For example, the Chidiyapur Rescue Center can hold 14 to 15 leopards but currently houses 24.
The Forest Department sent a proposal to the Central Zoo Authority on June 19, 2026, to build 10 new regional rescue centers across various districts, each with a capacity to house eight leopards.
