Forest department survey revealed that the numbers of dogs had risen inside Film City
Worried about five incidents of human-leopard conflict in Aarey Milk colony as well as Filmcity since March, now it is dogs and morning walkers who are giving the forest department sleepless nights.
During a recent survey carried out by senior officials of the Thane Forest department (Territorial) around Aarey Colony and Film City, it was found that the numbers of dogs had exponentially grown inside the Film City area.
Issues at Aarey
"We have written to the Aarey Chief Executive Officer (CEO) asking him to prohibit the entry of morning walkers along the VIP guest house route as there has been regular sighting of leopards in that area and given the fact that due to rains there are high bushes grown all around and even considering the recent attacks its best that this stretch be made out of bounds for the walkers for their own safety," said Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar, Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) Thane Territorial.
Naturalist Rajesh Sanap who has been documenting the biodiversity of Aarey and even carrying out camera trapping study of leopards from Aarey said that while this was a good move there also needs to be focus on sensitising people on not bringing their pet dogs for walk or playing in some of the dense forested patches of Aarey. "We have regularly been spotting people coming with their dogs especially near VIP guest house and then they leave them off-leash. Since there is a regular leopard movement in this area there can be attacks on dogs as well as people too, but despite warning the owners they seem not to be bothered," said Sanap adding that being a dog lover himself he understood the emotions of dog owners who take dogs outdoors but there was need to also exercise caution when they are in a leopard territory.
Feeding dogs at Film City
After Vihaan Garuda was killed on July 22 in a leopard attack near the helipad area in Filmcity, the next day the forest department team that visited Film City was almost left shocked on seeing the number of stray dogs in the area. "It was not only that but there were people who were feeding them right on the streets. Also at few sets leftover food was thrown nearby attracting more dogs," informed a forest official.
Ramgaonkar shared that apart from Aarey CEO they have also written to the Film City management informing them that in order to avoid instances of human-leopard conflict they will have to ensure that there is proper waste management. "Dogs are known to attract leopards as they are easy food for the big cat and the increasing dog population in film City is a serious concern and needs to be addressed. Also dogs thrive in areas where food is abundant and hence we have requested them to ensure left over food is not dumped," he said.
LEOPARD ATTACKS
- March 22: 3-yr-old boy attacked at Chafyachapada
- May 15: 3-year-old boy injured after attack at Khadakpada
- May 27: Four-year-old boy from Royal Palms attacked
- July 22: 2-and-half-year-old boy died after being attacked
- July 28: 13-year-old injured after a leopard attack
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