Trapping leopard repeatedly could create conflict: Officials

On May 16,the female leopard had walked into a trap set by Thane forest department and was released in the national park the next day. A few hours later,some residents claimed they had spotted the leopard and her two cubs in the compound.

“Driving the animal away is not a solution. Also,trapping it should be the last option. It could either return or get agitated. If we keep trapping and releasing it in the wild,it will get protective towards its cubs and attack. If you live near a national park,you have to face the risk,” said Sunil Limaye,chief forest conservator,SGNP. In a survey conducted in June last year,21 leopards were counted in the park.

Sunetro Ghosal,an independent researcher,also said trapping was a “bad solution.” “The moment you trap an animal,you are creating conflict. So,apart from organising awareness programmes for residents,garbage should be removed to divert dogs,which may attract the leopard,” he said.

Residents,meanwhile,said the wall between Khatau Mills and SGNP was broken at several spots and that they had asked forest officials to rebuild it.

“The breaks in the wall provides easy access for the leopard to enter the mill compound. Our society,which shares a common boundary wall with Khatau Mills,faces serious threat,” said society secretary Ashish Sawant. Residents claim the leopard had entered the society three- four times.

“We will rebuild the wall,but it is just 2.5-meters high. The leopard can easily jump over it,” said Limaye.

In a joint meeting with society residents on May 2 and May 11,forest officials claimed the leopard was appearing in the society only to catch dogs. A dumping pile on the main road,just outside the society,is frequented by dogs. Sawant,however,said it was difficult to drive away the dogs.

Children playing in the compound,said residents,were the primary cause of worry. “There are around 100 kids in the society and with summer holidays,monitoring them is tedious. The society has installed a barbed-wire fence on the 500-meter-long boundary wall and we have put up halogen lights. We have spent around Rs 2 lakh. Forest officials have suggested installing a forest grade fence,which is a costly affair. This is their job,not ours,” said Sawant.

Limaye,however,said the residents should take measures such as “tightening security,increasing lighting and staying cautious. Leopards are human-shy and they never attack until provoked.”