After leopard deaths near the SGNP, calls grow for wildlife crossings on the Ghodbunder stretch
Fast-moving vehicles pass through the Gaimukh ghat stretch on the Ghodbunder-Gaimukh road in Thane West, a corridor flagged by forest officials as a key wildlife crossing zone. File Pic/Satej Shinde
Even as road-widening work on the Ghodbunder-Gaimukh stretch is underway, city-based nature lovers and forest officials are pushing for stronger wildlife protection measures, including proper signage at identified animal crossing points.
The Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) authorities have informed the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC), which is carrying out the road expansion, that frequent traffic snarls on the stretch lead to high noise pollution, making it difficult for wild animals to cross safely. Forest department sources told mid-day that a proposal for an elevated wildlife overpass is being planned to ensure the safe movement of animals across the busy corridor.
Towards the end of last year, SGNP’s Deputy Director (North), Pradip Patil, wrote to MBMC’s executive engineer regarding the diversion of forest land required for the widening and improvement of the Ghodbunder-Gaimukh road.
A senior Maharashtra Forest Department official said, “The Ghodbunder-Gaimukh stretch is a critical ghat road where the existing asphalt surface and terrain already slow traffic. Poor road safety conditions increase the risk of accidents and human casualties. Prolonged congestion, along with air and noise pollution, also has a serious impact on forests and wildlife. With increasing passenger and freight traffic, ensuring safe wildlife crossings will become even more challenging.”
The official added that MBMC has been asked to submit a comprehensive proposal for widening the road by up to 60 metres, or as required, while factoring in wildlife safety measures. Forest department sources said SGNP authorities plan to propose a dedicated wildlife overpass after conducting detailed studies and assessing technical feasibility.
Earlier, on January 3, mid-day had reported that River March, a city-based wildlife conservation group, wrote to the director of SGNP highlighting the growing threat to animals along the Thane-Ghodbunder Road and the Western Express Highway. The group demanded the immediate installation and maintenance of wildlife crossing signage and the construction of culverts to ensure safe animal movement through this key wildlife corridor.
Leopard killed by speeding train
Train services were briefly halted on Sunday morning after a leopard was found grievously injured on the Up line near Bhagur, close to Deolali railway station, around 7 am in Nashik district. During treatment, the leopard succumbed to its injuries. Following the alert, the Nashik Forest Division team along with the wildlife rescue team from RESQ CT- Nashik rushed to the spot and shifted the injured animal away from the tracks, after which train movement was restored. Forest officials said the leopard suffered extremely severe head injuries, with one of its legs found completely severed. Wildlife veterinarians administered primary treatment at the site before shifting the animal to the wildlife treatment centre at Mhasrul for further care. Officials confirmed that the injured animal is a female leopard, aged approximately seven to eight months.
Did you know?
A study conducted under SGNP’s ‘Mumbaikars for SGNP’ initiative in 2012 revealed that 40 leopards died in road accidents along the park’s periphery between 1994 and 2011. Most of these fatalities occurred on the stretch between Ghodbunder village and Vasai, near the Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary.
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