If sanctioned, this will be the first large-scale camera trapping exercise and radio-collaring initiative to be carried out in the Aravallis
With regular sightings of leopards in Gurugram and the neighbouring districts in the Aravalli range, the forest department is looking at a larger study to estimate the population and map habitat of the wild cat, using camera traps and radio collars.
Following a preliminary camera-trap study carried out by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the forest department has proposed to set up nearly 100 camera traps in the Aravalli range across Haryana's five southern districts and also radio-collar the leopards. If sanctioned, this will be the first large-scale camera trapping exercise and radio-collaring initiative to be carried out in the Aravallis.
During the WII study commissioned by the Gurugram Forest Circle, 10 camera traps were installed and four leopards were seen on the images captured. Camera traps use infrared and motion sensor technology to capture images of animals when they move past them. These images help to confirm and map the presence and movement of animals and even identify each individual based on their unique patterns, such as the rosette pattern on leopards or stripes on tigers.
The forest department in Gurugram proposed this study days before a male leopard was clubbed to death by a mob in Mandawar near Sohna on Thursday. "The Aravallis habitat, which extends from Rajasthan to Haryana, is a viable landscape for leopards, if we reduce the human pressure and increase legal protection. A study that will map the extent of leopards in this range will help us to conserve them and the forests," said MD Sinha, Conservator of Forest, Gurugram (south) Circle.
He added: "Leopards in and around Gurugram are moving out of their natural habitat because of urbanisation. This also affects their prey base, which forces them to hunt dogs near human habitation." The Bandhwari to Damdama patch, including Mangar Bani, is spread across more than 5,000 hectares on a 30km stretch. While this stretch is home to an estimated 30 leopards, the Gurugram Forest Circle has confirmed the presence of only five big cats through the camera-trap images.
According to the forest officials, they have proposed that at least five leopards should be fitted with radio collars to give a fair idea about their movement across the forests and human settlements. "Satellite-based radio collars are a great tool to understand the range of leopards across a habitat. These collars can store thousands of locations where leopards move around. Most importantly, it will give an idea about the amount of time they are spending near humans in urban settlements surrounding the Aravallis," said Bilal Habib, scientist, WII, who carried out the preliminary study.
In the past, radio collars fitted on leopards in Sangamner, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra have revealed that leopards thrive peacefully in sugarcane farms without any conflict with humans.
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