The tribal hamlets of Aarey Milk Colony will soon get new red blinker lights in order to bring a stop to leopard traffic in these human-populated areas. This is a pilot project undertaken by the Thane Forest Department (Territorial) after a series of man-leopard conflicts in the area this year. In theory, the red blinking lights will scare the leopards away. For now, 20 lamps have been distributed on a trial basis in Chafyachapada, Keltipada and Vanichapada, at houses that are closest to the forested patches that are frequented by leopards. Each lamp costs up to 1,700.

The red lights are to installed outside the houses closest to forested patches that are frequented by leopards. Pics/Sameer Markande