Turn zoos with low footfall into leopard rescue centres: Ministry

In light of increasing cases of human–wildlife conflict involving leopards in various parts of the country, the Environment Ministry has directed all states to identify and categorise areas with human–leopard conflicts and submit management proposals in consultation with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

In a recent meeting of the Wildlife Board, the Union Ministry suggested that the states may repurpose zoos with low footfall and limited exhibits as rescue centres for leopards.

In the last five years, 831 leopards have been killed. Of these, more than 600 have died in Uttarakhand alone. Due to shrinking forests, a series of leopard attacks has also triggered panic in rural areas from Pune to Kolhapur.

The Forest Department of Maharashtra recently announced that rapid leopard rescue squads were being set up to trap and take away the big cats. Rescue centre for leopards will also be set up in the Etawah area of Uttar Pradesh.

In Delhi-NCR, more than 40 leopards have been sighted in urban areas since 2019 and more than 10 leopards have died in road accidents on the Gurugram-Faridabad road since 2015.

Wildlife Conservator Anil Gandass said due to illegal mining activities in the Aravallis, the availability of prey and water for leopards has decreased in the forest areas.

“Leopards prey on dogs, which are mostly found near residential areas. After straying into the human habitat in search of food and water, they get lost and trapped. It is here that the conflict begins,” he said.

According to the minutes of the meeting of the recent Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL), the member secretary of the wildlife panel further said that Rhesus macaque species of monkeys should be reinstated under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act to prevent cruelty, exploitation and illegal trade against them.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, who is also the Chairman of the SC-NBWL, emphasised that all divisional forest officers (DFOs)/deputy conservators of forests (DCFs) should prepare site-specific management and conservation plans for the species.

He further directed that appropriate rescue and rehabilitation centres be developed or strengthened to handle conflict situations and facilitate care of displaced or injured individuals.