Leopards a big fear around Gir: MLA

Leopards

Ahmedabad Mirror | Updated: Dec 14, 2019, 06:00 IST

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Ahmedabad Mirror | Updated: Dec 14, 2019, 06:00 IST
Cong's MLA from Visavadar Harshad Ribadiya to meet forest minister, seek Centre's intervention

By Nischal Sanghavi

Gujarat's leopard population was estimated at 1,395 in a 2016 survey, as per official data. However, the number could be more than 2,000, claimed Visavadar MLA Harshad Ribadiya. According to him, the rising population has left the residents around forest areas of Gir living in constant fear as the man-animal conflict in the region has increased. Ribadiya said he, accompanied by a delegation, would be meeting Union forest minister Prakash Javadekar and make a representation in this regard. They would also seek Centre's intervention in addressing the issue.

According to Ribadiya, the areas of Gir forest and Mount Girnar which includes places like Junagadh, Amreli, Bagasra, Dhari, Kodinar, Una have been living under the constant threat of leopards for past few months. He claimed the increase in population has forced leopards to look for newer territories, because of which they land in human habitat and kill people. He cited the killing of a leopard on Wednesday by a forest department guard in Amreli after two people were killed by it in Bagasra. However, several leopards were roaming free in the area, posing major threat to villagers, he added. According to Ribadiya, big cats have killed 17 people in the region in past few months.

'We live in fear'

"It is a very scary situation for all villagers. We are very scared of going to the farm. We do not visit the farm at night. However, there is no electricity during daytime on most days. In this village, for half the month, the power cut is during daytime, while on the rest of the days it is at night. The administration knows the situation, and most days section 144 is imposed in the area at night, prohibiting villagers from coming out of their homes," said Virkubhai Basiya of Mota Mandavda village of Amreli taluka

He added, "The biggest fear is for our children. We fear for their safety when they are playing on the streets. We are afraid of sending them to schools. The situation may not be very scary inside the village area, but on the outskirts, you encounter the wild animal very often."

The conflict

Social Forestry Circle's Conservator of Forest A M Parmar said, "Usually, we try to lay a trap and catch them. If we do not succeed we try to tranquilize the animal. Only if nothing of this works do we shoot the animal. However, shooting in human habitat is not preferable as civilians in the area may get hurt. The footprints of the killed leopard match the ones of man-eater leopard we were looking for."

Collector of Amreli district Ayush Oak confirmed that the population of wild animals has increased. "Humans have entered their territory, so now they are entering ours. The situation is such that more animals are entering the revenue area of the forest," said Oak. He added that the forest department is working on controlling and catching animals that turn rogue and the administration is trying to make the region safer for the residents.
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