50 spotted deer released in Surat forest to strengthen biodiversity, reduce human-wildlife conflict

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Gujarat's forest department released 50 spotted deer in the Mandvi Forest Range in Surat district to improve ecosystem health and reduce human-wildlife conflict, officials said on Sunday.

The animals have been moved from the Sasan Gir Wildlife Division in the Saurashtra region, an official release said.

The initiative is intended to strengthen the natural prey base for carnivores, enhance biodiversity, and support long-term ecological balance in South Gujarat, it said.

The translocation was carried out in three phases between May and June this year.

"A total of 21 spotted deer were released on May 23, followed by 16 on June 18 and another 13 on June 24, taking the total number relocated to 50," the release said.

The Gujarat government has been implementing a range of science-based forest conservation initiatives aimed at protecting biodiversity while promoting human-wildlife coexistence, it said.

"The translocation, carried out under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, is part of the state's long-term efforts to restore ecological balance by increasing herbivore populations in suitable forest landscapes," said state Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia.

According to Minister of State for Forests and Environment Pravin Mali, a healthy prey base enables predators to meet their food requirements within forest habitats, reducing the likelihood of their movement into human-dominated areas in search of prey.

"This, in turn, can help lower the incidence of human-wildlife conflict," he said.

The forest department has established a spotted deer breeding centre to augment local herbivore populations and a jungle fowl breeding centre to diversify the prey base while enriching avian biodiversity, said Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Jaipal Singh.

The official said that there is a healthy deer population in the Sasan Gir Wildlife Division, which forms part of the Gir landscape, the world's only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion. The Mandvi Forest Range has several leopards, and the deer were relocated, keeping this factor in mind, he said

Surat Circle Conservator of Forests Puneet Nayyar said the department has also deployed a dedicated Quick Response Team to strengthen conflict response mechanisms.

The QRT is equipped with modern equipment to respond promptly to wildlife emergencies and ensure the safety of both local communities and wild animals, he said.

Before the translocation, forest officials carried out detailed habitat assessments to identify sites capable of sustaining the released animals, Nayyar said.

"To ensure year-round water availability, the department developed 10 permanent water points across the release area, providing reliable drinking water for the deer," he added.

The department has also established an intensive post-release monitoring programme.

Dedicated forest guards and trained trackers are conducting continuous field monitoring, while strategically placed camera traps are being used to assess deer movements, habitat use, health, and survival in the wild, the release added.

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