No data on black panthers population in the country

NEW DELHI: The government has no data on the total number of black panthers in the country, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

"No exclusive census in respect of black panthers has been conducted in the country. Data on the number of wild cats killed and the total number of black panthers' skins, nails, fur etc. seized is not collected at the Government level," S Raghupathy, Minister of state for Environment and Forests said in a written reply.

Black leopards are smaller and more lightly built as compared to other leopards. They are reported from most densely forested areas of Assam and parts of southern India.

To another query, the minister said there were four cases of tiger poaching in Kaziranga National Park in Assam this year.

He said during 2007-08, an amount of Rs 36.60 lakh was released for Kaziranga National Park under the scheme "Assistance for development of national park and sanctuaries."