Maharashtra: Nearly 50 leopards in Junnar to be sterilised

The Maharashtra Forest Department is planning a leopard sterilisation programme in Pune district's Junnar taluka. The department will carry out laparoscopic tubectomy on 36 females and laparoscopic vasectomy on 11 males after receiving the environment ministry's approval.

De Amol Kolhe, member of Parliament (MP) from Shirur, has been demanding that the department should take measures to control the leopard population. He has discussed the issue in Lok Sabha and also wrote a letter to Bhupender Yadav, Union minister of environment, forest and climate change. Dr Kolhe had sent a proposal for population control of leopards through targeted birth control measures in the Junnar forest division.

A letter and report

On July 18, the principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF), wildlife, Maharashtra, wrote a letter to the additional director general (wildlife) of the environment ministry. The DCF of Junnar had sent a proposal to the PCCF on population control of leopards through targeted birth control measures. The proposal highlighted the study conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with the Maharashtra Forest Department under the project titled Understanding Population Dynamics, Space Use, Movement and Diet of Leopards in Junnar Taluka, Maharashtra for Human Leopard Conflict Mitigation.

Avoiding capture of already sterilised leopards and post-procedure care of animals are crucial. Representation pic

The DCF's report identified the hotspots where the human-leopard conflict is high. It states that the irrigation projects in the last couple of decades have led to the expansion of sugarcane cropping areas. "Sugarcane crops account for a safe habitat to hide and breed, and frequent livestock activity in the surroundıngs provides a good depredate on livestock for the leopards. The availability of sugarcane and domestic prey is helping the leopard population thrive in this landscape," the PCCF's stated.

The DCF's report highlighted birth control techniques such as mechanical methods, endocrine disruptive, immune-contraceptive and surgical methods. "Considering the usage practicality, complications and effects these techniques have on the life of the animals, subjecting the males to laparoscopic vasectomy and females to laparoscopic tubectomy would be the most feasible option for practical implementation of the birth control of the leopard population in this landscape," the letter read.

"It is planned to capture and conduct laparoscopic vasectomy on 11 males and laparoscopic tubectomy on 36 females in the identified villages. Such a targeted birth control measure would immensely help in decreasing the rate of increase in the leopard population. The whole operation shall be carried out under the supervision of experts and the guidance of the Wildlife Institute of India. It is requested to kindly consider this proposal and grant the in-principle approval so that a detailed proposal under Section 12(bb) of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 shall be prepared and sent to the ministry at the earliest." the proposal stated.

ExpertSpeak

Kishor Rithe, director, Bombay Natural History Society, said, "If the Forest Department really does this, it will help control the leopard population."

Wildlife Conservationist Kedar Gore said, "Leopards are extremely adaptable animals and can inhabit dense forests and agricultural fields. Leopards in proximity to and in human-dominated landscapes are potentially dangerous and often lead to negative interactions, putting the lives of leopards and people at risk. Therefore, the option to use laparoscopic sterilisation seems to be a humane and effective way to control the further increase in leopard population of the area."

Challenges galore

He added, "However, it would be easier said than done. Challenges such as actually capturing the leopards, avoiding the capture of already sterilised leopards and post-procedure care of the animals are crucial. I am sure a scientific protocol must have been applied to arrive at the number of animals to be sterilised in the shortest possible period. The sterilised leopards must be monitored for at least three years to monitor any behavioural changes. While this experiment is being done, we must ensure that the natural habitat of leopards is not further compromised due to agricultural expansion and encroachment. Keeping the population of free-ranging and stray dogs under control and preventing the accumulation of garbage in nearby areas are also necessary steps to be taken and sustained to address this issue in the long term."

July 18
Day PCCF wrote to environment ministry