The Hindu : Other States / Maharashtra News : Rabbits, pigs released into Sanjay Gandhi National Park

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Wednesday, Jun 30, 2004

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Rabbits, pigs released into Sanjay Gandhi National Park

By Our Special Correspondent

Leopards straying from Mumbai's Sanjay Gandhi National Park have claimed 10 lives in nearby residential colonies during June. On Tuesday, park officials said they tranquillised and captured three leopards, including this one, in an overnight operation. -- By Special Arramge,emt

MUMBAI, JUNE 29. The Maharashtra Forest Department's action of releasing rabbits and domestic pigs into the 103 sq. km. Sanjay Gandhi National Park to increase the prey base of leopards has come under attack by environmentalists. In the presence of a large media contingent, some pigs and rabbits were released today to "tempt" the leopards, which have attacked and killed 14 persons this year, 10 this month. Forest officials ruled out the possibility of the leopards being man-eaters.

The Additional Chief Secretary, Forests, Ashok Khot, said at a press conference that at least 500 pigs would be released into the park, along with rabbits, wild boar and fowls. He denied that the domestic animals were disease-prone and would adversely impact wildlife. All animals were checked for disease before being released into the park, he asserted.

However, he said there was adequate prey in the park for the leopards — 273 spotted deer, 23 sambhar and monkeys and smaller animals. "There are 35-40 leopards in the park. A serious situation has arisen due to human interference in the park and its periphery," he said.

The former honorary secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), J.C. Daniel, who has studied leopards for the last 30 years, told The Hindu that releasing domestic prey was an act of desperation. "The leopard is usually an inconspicuous animal and is never seen. It was very unusual for these animals to come out. The killings are probably the work of a single animal."

The Forest Department's move has upset environment activists and they want expert advice to solve the issue. Sunjoy Monga, a naturalist who has written a book on the park, said: "This forest needs more attention and it needs a thorough project. This kind of animal-human conflict can only be minimised; it cannot be stopped altogether." Contrary to Government claims, Isaac Kehimkar of the BNHS said that the prey base had diminished over the years, and the leopards mostly fed on dogs they picked up from human settlements.

Living with leopards has become the norm near the park. The attacks have caused much outrage and thrown up demands for shooting the animals. For Dudhaji Bhopi, who lives on the banks of Vihar lake in the precincts of the park, fishing in the lake is a regular activity. However, on June 9, his 45-year-old brother, Baban, was killed by a leopard near the lake. Satnam Singh, whose uncle Kuldip Singh, was killed by a leopard, said: "There is no boundary wall between our residential complex and the forest. We saw a leopard even yesterday. The forest department does not allow us to build a fence."

Dhiresh Shah, who lives in Raheja Estates that shares a wall with the park, said that a young leopard was spotted 15 days ago in the car park. On Monday, there was another one in a half-constructed building on the premises. Three forest officials were injuried while trying to capture the animal.

In 2004, Mr. Khot said there were 19 attacks, in which 14 persons were killed and five injured. Since June 3, 10 persons have been killed and three injured in 13 attacks. Fifteen leopards had been trapped by the park authorities, three of them in the last two days.

In 2001-02, there were 11 attacks in which four people died; in 2002-03, 22 cases were reported in which 15 persons were killed and seven injured; and in 2003-04, in 31 incidents, 16 persons had been killed and 15 injured. Compensation of up to Rs. 2 lakhs per head was given in cases outside the park area. The Shiv Sena leaders, Manohar Joshi, Udhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut, led a contingent of flag waving Sainiks to the park. Mr. Thackeray told the media that everyone should work towards a solution to the problem and encroachment should be stopped.

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Rabbits, pigs released into Sanjay Gandhi National Park