Big cats adapting to life near the concrete jungle

As humans in search of space venture into forest territory, animals in search of prey venture into city limits. ATUL SATHE, nature lover and wildlife expert

THANE: Wildlife experts said that venturing into the periphery of the forest area in search of food is not uncommon for leopards, who form their territory within the forest area and can move into areas bordering the forest at night in search of easy prey.

The periphery of the forest area was part of their space until construction and human inhabitation started confining the animals in the forest. Stray dogs and livestock are tempting prey for leopards. “These are urban leopards, they have adapted to the city life and they visit, hunt livestock or stray dogs and go back into the forest. Presence of CCTV make us alert about their movements. Earlier, in 2016 and 2017 also there have been instances of leopards being spotted, but they went back into the forest eventually. Wednesday’s incident was one such time when probably the leopard lost its way in search of a new territory or prey,” said Aditya Patil, president, Wildlife Welfare Association, Thane.

There have been instances of leopards travelling 300km also and according to experts, a hungry leopard can easily enter 4km into the heart of the city. “It may not have travelled overnight. He must have been in hiding after travelling half the distance and then travelled the rest of the distance,” added Patil. The open garbage bins situated outside housing societies are a common spot for stray dogs in search of food and leopards wait for such opportunities for easy prey.

Most housing societies in the periphery of the Yeoor forest share their boundary wall with the forest precincts; this gives the leopard easy access.

“For leopards, the concrete jungle that we have built is like a maze. When they see human movement they find it difficult to find their way out especially during the day,” said Nikit Surve, Research Consultant, Wildlife Conservation Society, India.

Wildlife experts have said there should be focus on measures to keep the animals in the forest as increasing contact with humans are causing deaths. In case of leopards and other big cats, their prey base needs to be concentrated to certain specific locations within forest areas, restraining them from venturing to urban spaces. They said there is a need for underpasses that would give the wildlife enough space to travel and connect different forests within the state. A need for co-existence and releasing the animals into their own territory after capture will ensure they do not venture into unknown areas. “As humans in search of space venture into forest territory, animals in search of prey venture into city limits. Also, leopards have their territories marked. Young leopards in search of territory may venture into the city limits,” said Atul Sathe, nature lover and wildlife expert.