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Expansion of its territory and chase for prey can be the reasons behind the recent intrusion of leopards into the human habitation of Haryana, say experts.
In the past 10 days, the Haryana Wildlife department captured two leopards from its two busy cities much away from the forests.
The capture of these leopards can be seen as disturbance in the leopard eco-system by human settlement. But, Punjab chief wildlife warden, Darindra Singh and wildlife expert term it natural as leopards are not pack animals but solitary creatures. “Each leopard has its own home range, although these ranges tend to overlap. Intruding upon another leopard’s turf often leads to fights, which pushes the new born towards fringes. Hence, the new born leopards try to create their own range resulting in the expansion of their territory and thereby intrusion in human habitat,” Singh said.
Singh also argued that the decreasing numbers of deer and antelopes, the usual prey of leopards, from forests to plains during winters was also a reason of leopard intrusion in residential areas. “Due to shortage of food in forests during winters, wild animals like deer come down towards plains. They are followed by leopards resulting in their intrusion into human habitat,” he said.
A Wildlife Biologist, Vidya Athreya, cautioned that there might be more leopards present in the nearby suburban areas as these wild cats have more liking for dogs and pigs.
“Leopards are much more adaptable than other big cats and could live off cattle and dogs in the absence of their usual prey like antelopes and deer. People may have not noticed them but there will be more leopards present in the area near to small forests,” said Athreya, whose guidelines on leopard conflict management were accepted by Government of India and sent to all States for implementation.
Leopards, a nocturnal animal, follow the barking of dogs paying way to their intrusion in the residential areas, she said.
Another wildlife expert, Rashid Naqash, said the human settlement in forests was the main reason behind the wandering of leopards in residential areas.
“The increasing human settlements near forests disturb the eco-system of leopards forcing them to come towards plains for their prey,” he said.
On December 20, a five-year-old panther was captured by the wildlife officials at Rehod in Barwala area of Haryana. However, he succumbed after four days at Chhatbir Zoo. Subsequently, another one-and-half-year old, male leopard was captured from a house in Panchkula city on Thursday. He has been sent to Chhatbir Zoo for medical examination only to be released later.
In the past 10 days, the Haryana Wildlife department captured two leopards from its two busy cities much away from the forests.
The capture of these leopards can be seen as disturbance in the leopard eco-system by human settlement. But, Punjab chief wildlife warden, Darindra Singh and wildlife expert term it natural as leopards are not pack animals but solitary creatures. “Each leopard has its own home range, although these ranges tend to overlap. Intruding upon another leopard’s turf often leads to fights, which pushes the new born towards fringes. Hence, the new born leopards try to create their own range resulting in the expansion of their territory and thereby intrusion in human habitat,” Singh said.
Singh also argued that the decreasing numbers of deer and antelopes, the usual prey of leopards, from forests to plains during winters was also a reason of leopard intrusion in residential areas. “Due to shortage of food in forests during winters, wild animals like deer come down towards plains. They are followed by leopards resulting in their intrusion into human habitat,” he said.
A Wildlife Biologist, Vidya Athreya, cautioned that there might be more leopards present in the nearby suburban areas as these wild cats have more liking for dogs and pigs.
“Leopards are much more adaptable than other big cats and could live off cattle and dogs in the absence of their usual prey like antelopes and deer. People may have not noticed them but there will be more leopards present in the area near to small forests,” said Athreya, whose guidelines on leopard conflict management were accepted by Government of India and sent to all States for implementation.
Leopards, a nocturnal animal, follow the barking of dogs paying way to their intrusion in the residential areas, she said.
Another wildlife expert, Rashid Naqash, said the human settlement in forests was the main reason behind the wandering of leopards in residential areas.
“The increasing human settlements near forests disturb the eco-system of leopards forcing them to come towards plains for their prey,” he said.
On December 20, a five-year-old panther was captured by the wildlife officials at Rehod in Barwala area of Haryana. However, he succumbed after four days at Chhatbir Zoo. Subsequently, another one-and-half-year old, male leopard was captured from a house in Panchkula city on Thursday. He has been sent to Chhatbir Zoo for medical examination only to be released later.
