West Bengal | To track big cats, Jaldapara National Park to put radio collars on 200 leopards

Authorities of Jaldapara National Park at Alipurduar district of West Bengal have decided to put radio collars on leopards to track their whereabouts. Frequent attacks of leopards who stray into human habitats have led them take such decision.

There have been as many as 64 incidents of leopards entering villages this year, injuring 16 people. Forest officials said that there were about 200 leopards in Jaldapara National Park.

As a pilot project, radio collars have been put on the leopard, which had entered Dalimpur village of Falakata area. It spread panic among villagers who were afraid of come out of their homes. Officials of the forest department were informed and once they arrived, they found the leopard, tranquilised it and put the collar on to it before setting it free in Jaldapara National Park.

Such collars would also put on other leopards in phases. Officials said that it would be specially useful to locate these animals at night if they tried to enter villages stealthily.

“It had been noticed that many leopards were entering human habitat at many villages of the vicinity and attacking people. We have put radio collars on these leopards to keep track on their movements so that other than studying these animals we can also take precautionary steps before they can cause any formidable damage,” said district forest officer Biman Biswas.