Mongabay | October 27, 2025
Sukhia Pokhri in the Darjeeling hills has shifted from being known for its cold, foggy winters to being a place where leopard sightings are a routine part of life. Regeneration of surrounding forests, driven by reduced firewood use and improved livelihoods, has brought wildlife, including leopards, closer to the town’s edges. While livestock losses are minimal, making coexistence more tolerable, growing tourism and changes in prey availability could quickly tip this balance toward conflict.
