Sanjay Gandhi National Park launches a knowledge series on leopards

MUMBAI: A knowledge series on 'Leopards in our backyards' is powered by Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SNGP) in Borivili.

Many regard leopards in and around SGNP as a safety hazard for humans. A study, therefore, attempts to understand the leopard's biology and the roots of the perceived conflict.

Asked if there isn't enough food in the park that leopards stray into human colonies, Sunil Limaye, SNGP director said: "Leopards do not understand any manmade boundaries or park limits. When they see easy prey like the huge number of dogs, they jump at them, though we have the presence of Cheetal and Sambar in the forest in abundance."

Limaye, who is spending most of his time in fighting court cases related to removal encroachments, said the government has begun to resettle slum-dwellers under SRA scheme and "now we have become quite strict in removing fresh slums."

SGNP has begun to construct a huge wall along its 92 km long boundary after gradually removing encroachers, but it is a tough task, he said.

To another question, he said construction around the part and occasional shoots at the film city are also badly impacting leopard movement. Garbage from housing colonies and hotels attracts dogs which in turn become target for leopard attacks.