Dept mulls rehab for wild cats to reduce human-animal conflict

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Karnataka Forest Department is considering setting up numerous rehabilitation centres for leopards, tigers and elephants in order to reduce human-animal conflicts in certain areas in the state.

Disclosing this here, the forest department said that it was studying the working of similar centres in other parts of the country, adding that they would soon submit a proposal regarding the same to the State government. The proposal would see establishment of several rehabilitation centres which could each house 200 to 250 leopards each and provide relevant medical care for the wild animals.

However, the problem is that the animals, particularly leopards, were being captured near human settlements by the Forest Department officials and released into the woods. This move wasn’t working since the big cats were returning to their original habitats and the conflict continued.

In view of the fact that the translocation process wasn’t working, the forest department hopes that these wild animals could be released at the proposed rehabilitation centres, which would provide large enough habitats that could stem the tide of conflict. They are also considering sterilizing the animals as a possible solution. Mysuru, Ramanagar, Tumakuru and Ballari districts have witnessed a marked increase in leopard sightings.

The latest attacks happened in T Naraspura taluk in Mysuru district where leopards killed an 11-year-old boy near Horalahalli village and a 60-year-old woman near Kannayakannahalli. As many as four people have died of leopard attacks in the last three months in the taluk, prompting authorities to often issue directions requesting people in the rural hinterland to avoid venturing out after dark.

Meanwhile, Kodagu, Hassan and Mysuru districts have seen an uptick in elephant attacks. Wildlife biologist and conservation activist Sanjay Gubbi had on numerous occasions advocated setting up of rehabilitation centres in lieu of translocation of leopards, which he said was working. Forest Department now seems to be in agreement with him over the issue.

Experts are of the opinion that leopards are being driven out of forests because of a multitude of factors such an increase in population and larger predators such as tigers. When they move to the outskirts of forests and settle near farmlands, they get used to the easy prey found there, including peafowl, hare, etc, these experts reason, which practically makes the conflict zones their new habitat.