Mumbai: Female leopard 'Savitri' radio collared at Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Two leopards will be radio-collared this year. Pic: SGNP/Maharashtra Forest Department

For the first time in the history of Mumbai, a female leopard was radio-collared at Borivali's Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) on Saturday. The big cat, named Savitri after the social reformer and educationist Savitribai Phule, was then released back into the wild.

Confirming the development, additional principal chief conservator of the Forest Wildlife West Sunil Limaye said, "We have successfully radio-collared one female leopard from SGNP and released it back into the wild. The study will be crucial in understanding the movement pattern of leopards and how they are using this landscape. As part of the project, a total of five leopards will be radio-collared, of which two will be radio-collared this year."

For the first time, the SGNP has initiated a project that involves GPS telemetry where radio collars that communicate via satellite will be used on leopards in Mumbai so that the forest department can implement better conservation models for their protection. This work will be done in collaboration with Wildlife Conservation Society, India, and Wildlife Conservation Trust. It is supported by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies [RNP] and the Reliance Foundation.

On Saturday, the leopard walked into the trap cage and was later tranquilized and fitted with the collar. "We are hoping that Savitri will enlighten us about the leopards in Mumbai," SGNP Director G Mallikarjuna, who was present during the collaring process said.

SGNP staff including divisional forest officer Sachin Repal, range forest officer of Tulsi Range Dinesh Desale, range forest officer Vijay Barabde, range forest officer Shailesh Deore, SGNP veterinary officer Shailesh Pethe, Dr. Vidya Athreya from Wildlife Conservation Society-India, and biologist Niki Surve were also part of the collaring process.