Immunocontraception is a non-invasive wildlife management method used globally. It works by stimulating an immune response that prevents reproduction without altering natural behaviour or causing long-term harm
It is said that the Immunocontraceptive therapy might help in decreasing the rate of increase in the leopard population. Representational pic
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has given its final approval to use immuno-contraceptive therapy for the population control on five female leopards in Junnar taluka of Pune District, an area frequently in the news for rising human–leopard conflict.
Confirming the development, a senior Maharashtra Forest Department official said, “The MoEF&CC has authorised the use of immuno-contraceptives on five female leopards in Junnar taluka.”
Immunocontraception is a non-invasive wildlife management method used globally. It works by stimulating an immune response that prevents reproduction without altering natural behaviour or causing long-term harm.
On July 18, 2024, the principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF), wildlife, Maharashtra, wrote a letter to the additional director general (wildlife) of the environment ministry. The then DCF of Junnar had also sent a proposal to PCCF on population control of leopards through targeted birth control measures.
The proposal highlighted the study conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with the Maharashtra Forest Department under the project titled ‘Understanding Population Dynamics, Space Use, Movement and Diet of Leopards in Junnar Taluka, Maharashtra for Human Leopard Conflict Mitigation’.
The DCF’s report identified the hotspots where the human-leopard conflict is high. It states that the irrigation projects in the past couple of decades have led to the expansion of sugarcane cropping areas.
“Sugarcane crops account for a safe habitat to hide and breed, and frequent livestock activity in the surroundıngs provides a good depredate on livestock for the leopards. The availability of sugarcane and domestic prey is helping the leopard population thrive in this landscape,” PCCF stated.
The DCF’s report highlighted birth control techniques such as mechanical methods, endocrine disruptive, immune-contraceptive, and surgical methods.
“Considering the usage practicality, complications, and effects these techniques have on the life of the animals, subjecting the males to laparoscopic vasectomy and females to laparoscopic tubectomy would be the most feasible option for practical implementation of the birth control of the leopard population in this landscape,” the letter read.
It is said that the Immunocontraceptive therapy might help in decreasing the rate of increase in the leopard population.
Forest officials told mid-day.com that the whole operation shall be carried out under the supervision of experts and WII’s guidance.
"The therapy has been successfully used in several wild species around the world. However, each population and species is unique in its own way. It would be interesting to study the outcomes in Junnar landscape," stated Dr Shailesh Pethe.
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