Trapping leopards is not the real solution: Wildlife expert

While the mere mention of a leopard instills fear among people, wildlife expert Vidya Atreya says the vice-versa is equally true about the big cat, which is ever wary of man. Having studied the animal, its behaviour patterns for years now, Atreya, in an interview with DNA's Vaishali Balajiwale, proposes a behaviour set for man so that he is able to avoid confrontations with his spotted neighbour. Some excerpts:

Why are leopards seen frequenting towns more often these days?
There is no simple answer to this. Leopards are known to live around human settlements, as records in the gazetteer around 1830s point out. They are often seen entering colonies or buildings only perhaps they blunder while finding their way back home. Also, instances of leopards entering people's homes are few as compared to passing by human settlements.

What is the challenge when a leopard makes its way into colonies or cities?
Public pressure! One of the biggest challenges is to deal with the thousands who gather to 'see' a leopard, who is fearful of humans by nature. While the animal won't attack unless it feels threatened, the sight of so many people only instills fear in it. And it then behaves in a manner to save itself.

If we want to save the leopard and the people in such a situation, we must learn to leave it alone and make way for it to go away quietly. We have asked the administration to instill section 144, banning the getting together of more than a five people at one place. This has worked in Dhule and there have been no casualties on either sides.

In your study of the leopard, what do you find peculiar about them?
The leopard is a very secretive animal and we know of it as much as we interpret from its behaviour. There is actually very little information, though planting chips on the animal has helped to some extent. However, incidences indicate that it can travel long distances and come back to its original habitat, even if released far away.

What needs to be done to resolve the man-animal conflict?
Awareness is key. We need to avoid the leopard just as it has a natural tendency to avoid us. In fact, at many places, even today, people and leopards are known to co-exist. This is the law of nature. Trapping, caging and releasing is not the real solution.