World Wildlife Day: How wildlife rescuers conserve leopards in Mumbai

Situated in the heart of Mumbai, Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) is a protected area housing 52 leopards in its vicinity. With increasing pressures on their habitat combined with their ability to live in human-dominated spaces, leopards have been spotted in suburban areas like Marol, Bhayandar and Uttan. Recently, a leopard was also filmed behind the IIT-Bombay campus In Powai.

Such spottings tend to create fear amongst locals as they lack an understanding of these jungle cats and their remarkable adaptability to urban settings, informs Venu Parmeshwar, head of operations, Wildlife Conservation Society - India. Consequently, these encounters led to human-wildlife conflicts which, in turn, caused their numbers to decline in the early 2000s.

Taking cognisance of their dwindling numbers, wildlife conservation groups across India embarked on developing coexistence between humans and the Panthera-family cat. The result? An 8 per cent rise in leopard population from 2018 to 2022 as per the ‘Status of Leopards in India 2022' report by the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

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Forest surveyors observed 20 states and tallied 13,874 leopards by the year 2022, as per the report. While these numbers reveal satisfactory outcomes, conservation efforts are still needed, opine experts. On World Wildlife Day, midday.com dialled up city-based wildlife experts to discover how they are tracking, studying and safeguarding the leopard population in Mumbai.

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Living with Leopards
Taking on the wildlife-forward challenge, SGNP has collaborated with WeWork India over ‘Living with Leopards,' a project that tackles leopard conservation through a three-pronged approach: research, education, and awareness. As Parmeshwar suggests - there exists a gap in understanding the physiological and behavioural aspects of leopards, that needs to be addressed urgently.

Known for their athletic bodies, these agile cats can run up to 57.9 kilometre an hour and cover 20 feet in height during a single leap, informs Pune-based wildlife rescuer - Tuhin Satarkar. Owing to their fast tempo and wild disposition, people often tend to have misconceptions about spotted predators. Satarkar shares some of them with Midday.

Apprehensions about leopards:
1 It's a myth that leopards actively seek out humans. While leopards may occasionally come into contact with humans, they typically avoid confrontation and prefer to retreat rather than attack.

2. Though in some instances, they have attacked humans but such occurrences are relatively rare. Leopards do not typically prey on humans as a primary food source.

3. In most cases, leopard attacks on humans occur due to provocation, such as when humans encroach upon leopard territory or inadvertently provoke the animal.

4. Leopards are solitary and elusive animals that prefer to avoid confrontations. They are not inherently aggressive towards humans and usually only attack if they feel threatened or cornered.

5. While conflicts between humans and leopards do occur, the overall risk posed by leopards to human populations is often exaggerated. With proper management and conservation efforts, coexistence between humans and leopards is possible in many areas.

Through the initiative ‘Living with Leopards,' the goal is to dispel such misconceptions and foster a deeper understanding of these leopards amongst locals Karan Virwani, CEO of WeWork India tells Midday. Taking us through their modus operandi, Virwani shares the three-pronged approach they have undertaken to preserve leopards in their natural habitat.

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Stage 1: Identifying and profiling leopards
Trap cameras have been positioned strategically across 49 locations within the park to research the leopard population. The images captured by the camera trap play a crucial role in the identification and differentiation of individual leopards, he informs.

These agile felines exhibit unique rosette patterns that are similar to spot-like formations spread throughout their bodies. With the information these cameras capture, conservators process it to inform their research on leopard population dynamics.

This data has proven instrumental in gathering a comprehensive understanding of leopard behaviour. "Leveraging this process, we have successfully identified and distinguished a minimum of 52 distinct leopards, contributing significantly to our understanding of the population's intricacies and enhancing conservation efforts," he adds.

Stage 2: Studying leopards in natural habitat
Post-profiling comes the role of social surveys and fieldwork to analyse leopard psychology. This approach helps unravel the multifaceted aspects of leopard behaviour including their dietary needs, breeding patterns, migratory tendencies and cultural significance, outlines Parmeshwar. Through the application of radio telemetry, researchers unveil the home ranges of leopards in SGNP, shedding light on their movements and habitat preferences.

By employing techniques such as camera trapping, track surveys and genetic analysis, researchers at Living with Leopard have developed a deeper understanding of leopard survival in SGNP. Through these social surveys, they have gathered data on their population densities, individual identification and genetic diversity. Additionally, they have also developed knowledge of their distribution and habitat preferences.

Complementing surveys is the role of fieldwork that has enabled researchers to observe and document behaviours such as hunting strategies, territorial markings, social interactions and responses to environmental stimuli. With these insights into the trophic interactions between leopards and their prey species - wildlife experts are now actively monitoring their habitation and breeding practices.

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Stage 3: Educating locals on coexistence
The last stage encompasses the creation of awareness materials that are developed from the analysis of diverse datasets. Through awareness sessions, talks and workshops as a direct outcome of the research findings and insights acquired, the team has mobilised locals to develop an informed approach to leopards.

"These informative sessions target a broad audience, including the general public, forest department staff and officials. Our awareness sessions were hosted at the Nature Interpretation Centre (NIC) and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay which serve as a platform for disseminating knowledge and engaging stakeholders in conversations about the criticality of conserving leopards," shares Parmeshwar.

Technological interventions for leopard conservation
"Leopards are one of the most charismatic and versatile large wild cats found in India," opines Rushikesh Chawan, Head of The Habitats Trust based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The trust he works for, recognises and supports conservation groups and individuals, who strive to safeguard India's natural habitats and native species of flora and fauna, especially the lesser-known species and neglected habitats.

With increasing concrete covers in Mumbai, these stealthy cats inadvertently venture into human-dominated spaces and pose a challenge to their coexistence with humans. However, Chawan sheds light on the role of technology as a crucial tool in conserving leopards.

"One significant technological advancement, apart from camera traps, is the use of satellite telemetry for monitoring leopard populations. The recent estimate of the leopard population in India has served as a baseline for assessing how leopards are doing in the wild. Furthermore, advancements in genetic analysis enable researchers to study leopard populations' genetic diversity and connectivity, thereby aiding in conservation planning."

Sensors, social media and sensitisation
Leopards being versatile, they are found in a range of environments from forests to urban sprawls. Modelling on the Geographic Information System (GIS) platform using layers of information from their movement patterns to food preferences and availability can help mitigate the risks of co-habitation with humans, adds Chawan.

To mitigate human-leopard conflicts, technology can be used to find solutions such as electric fencing, motion-activated deterrents, and early warning systems. Motion-activated deterrents, such as the use of sensors and CC TV cameras to detect leopard presence and send alerts can be effective in reducing negative interactions, especially in urban settings.

Additionally, leveraging social media, online platforms and mobile applications to raise awareness, mobilise support and engage communities in best practices can go a long way in leopard conservation efforts.

Overall, by harnessing the versatility of technology, wildlife conservators have enhanced leopard conservation efforts, improved monitoring and research capabilities, and promoted co-habitation between leopards and humans.

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