Encroachers shack up in a deer's enclosure at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park for four months. What's worse, they endanger the animal's life by feeding it dal-rice and fried snacks

FIRST, humans drove animals out of forests. Now, some of them are taking over their cages too. And not just for a PETA campaign. Sunday MiD DAY saw the horrifying proximity that exists between an already beleaguered wildlife and encroachers, at Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivli.

The deer has human company. Women go about their daily rituals in front of their houses

Over 40 such encroachers have made a thousand square metre cage their home. The original inhabitant of the cage, a deer, goes about doing what deers do while the encroachers live here cook, wash their clothes and feed the deer fried snacks and other things. Before you think that this is cute, it is a complete violation of forest laws and endangers wildlife that is already under threat.

This is only the last of a long list of troubles faced by the park, which has seen years of exploitation by illegal encroachment, poaching, illicit distilling stills and quarry owners. These have dried up the densely forested hills, which were referred to as the lungs of Mumbai and responsible for the majority of fresh water supplied to the city.

Home for four months
Posing as a tourist, this journalist struck up conversation with a person inside the cage, who identified himself as Bapu. He revealed that his family and he had been living inside the cage for over four months.

When asked about the deer, darting about nearby, Bapu said the animal was initially wary but has now become comfortable.

"We are banjaras (gypsies), who roam from place to place. We found this settlement safe and secure and decided to make it our home. We do not plan to leave it any time soon," said Bapu.