The city's forestland in and around Sanjay Gandhi National Park has seen a comsistent rise in the number of leopards in the past four years, according to a 2018 population estimate study done using camera traps.
Currently, SGNP and its adjoining areas are home to 47 leopards, which is six more than the number recorded in 2017, and twelve more than that estimated in 2015.
Of the 47 leopards, 22 were photographed by camera traps for the first time, 19 being young leopards between two and four years.
Apart from this, eight cubs were also recorded, but as per protocol, their numbers are not added to the total tally.
Though the steady rise (41 in 2017, 35 in 2015) goes to show how the leopards continue to thrive in a comparatively smaller area of 140 sq km, wildlife experts caution that the increasing number calls for better forest management as well as sustained efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
The stress is on raising awareness of those living on the forest's periphery and strengthening leopard rescue teams to handle conflicts.
"Our aim was also to compare the numbers and assess the movement and dispersal patterns of leopards inside and outside the park's boundary. We have got good data. Such long-term studies are crucial to a better understanding of the city's leopards," said Nikit Surve, who has been carrying out such studies in SGNP since 2015.
Conservationist Kedar Gore said having 47 leopards in the middle of one of the busiest cities of the world was incredible but also tricky. It means more focus from the forest department on maintaining a sound herbivorous population, which is the leopards' prey base. Protecting wildlife corridors to ensure dispersal of leopards to scatter the rising population is also equally important.
Anwar Ahmed, the chief conservator of forests and SGNP field director, said studies carried out since 2011 have indicated spotted big cats in the park area have been living in territories that overlap with human habitation, which is concerning.
Studying The Urban Wild
- Study carried out by Nikit Surve from Wildlife Conservation Society, India and forest dept between April 25 and June 8 last year.
- Area sampled: SGNP, including Aarey Milk Colony edges, Bombay Veterinary College, IIT-Powai, Ghodbunder village, Nagla block.
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