Living with leopards - A 'Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai' Experience
Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) is a protected area situated within the Mumbai metropolis, and with surrounding forests harbor over 35 leopards.
This oasis is surrounded by massive urban sprawl supporting around 21000 people per square km, and leopard-human interactions are inevitable.
In the past, these interactions ended up as conflicts, as people were unaware on proper ways to deal with them.
However, since the beginning of this decade, a new initiative by the Maharashtra Forest Department called 'Mumbaikars for SGNP' is revolutionizing the way India deals with its leopards.
The multi-dimensioned project carried out a) scientific research, b) built capacity of the Forest Department members and improved coordination between different divisions, c) developed constructive partnerships with different stakeholders including civic authorities, police, media, and d) held awareness sessions for general public at large.
The project has seen successful outcomes. With the residents being sensitized by the project, no leopards have been captured in Mumbai since 2013. Likewise, no attacks on humans have been reported in the last two years in and around SGNP, as against up to 30 attacks a year between 2003 and 2005.
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Note:
Most efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts in India are directed towards managing the animals. While such conflicts might never be eliminated completely, Mumbai experience shows that solutions are more effective when we reach out to people, help them lead safer lives by making them understand the issue.
Пікірлер: 21
It's satisfying that mumbaikars are showing the world how to coexist with wildlife. Anyone who has read Corbett' s "Maneating Leopard of Rudraprayag" will know the terror this animal can cause. Hats off to my beloved Mumbai that it has found a way to allow this beautiful animal to live in its midst.
Also need to stop the builders who are destroying the forest
Great work by Mumbaikars for SGNP. Ive met part of the team and they are a bunch of asli Mumbaikars. The next steps should include : 1. Guaranteed, encroachment free 104 sq KM of SGNP for ever. No new construction 2 Regular feature/coverage by media on leopards of Mumbai. 3. Showcase this achievement internationally and invite research folk to replicate/analyse/learn. 4. SGNP run "Living the leopard" tours strictly for people for around the park only. 5. Sensitize the entire towards the blessing we have in SGNP. There are peak 32 leopards in the recent count. They dont have all of the 104 sq KM. Food source is plenty hence they need lesser area as compared to forest. There is a lot to learn from this..
That guy at 1:45 tells the big truth! Respect for that, this is how to coexist with wildlife!
@travellerextraordinnaire7388
2 жыл бұрын
Ikr. Perfect words!
In my opinion Coexistence is not a an event its a journey. it is not a permanent solution either. As long as leopards are coming out of park to feed on poultry, ship, dogs, cows, there is always loss of something either it is behavioral change of leopard and prey pattern or domestic loss of villagers.Problem is when they will start relying more on domestic animals and not wild animals without attacking humans .Only solution is undisturbed well connected rich and more forest areas for any wild animal to survive which is their basic need.
Because The park was leopards Home, Human living in Leopards Home
THAT IS CHANGE !
Nice information
beautiful Big Cats!
This is my country I can speak one of the languages
Ji
leopards
Very nice. but the speaker's voice is very poor
@MadnSad
7 жыл бұрын
Sameer Pagare the speaker is so clear and his voice is so pleasant.
@mumbaimerijaan369
7 жыл бұрын
Sameer Pagare the speaker is clear and his voice is so pleasant.
@vidyaathreya767
4 жыл бұрын
Hey Sameer, this was a low budget movie, made and shot and edited on an iPad. Sheren who made it did everything from filming, to editing to music and his voice too :) I thank him for the effort. Am happy you liked it.
indian english sounds funny!
Just catch them and keep them in zoo since in mumbai's zoo we can't see any animal except old elephant and monkey😁 and yes empty lions and tiger cages