Change your spots, human

On a dark night in April 2009, forest officials rescued a leopard from an agricultural well in Ahmedabad district and set him free in Malshej Ghats. Called Ajoba (grandfather in Marathi), the leopard made headlines in the following weeks. He trekked nearly 120 km in 25 days to arrive at his probable home, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai. Ajoba died in 2011 at Godbhunder road near the park, but he will come alive again in the upcoming Marathi movie Ajoba , directed by national award winner Sujay Dahake of Shala fame.

The movie is tailored to spread awareness on the broader issue of coexistence between animals and humans. “I wanted to voice issues based on wildlife conservation and environment. I was looking for a protagonist for the story. While reading newspapers, I found my hero in Ajoba. The audience will find an emotional connect with him. The movie conveys a social message,” says Dahake.

Actor Urmila Matondkar essays the role of Vidya Athreya, the wildlife biologist who tracked Ajoba during the journey. What fascinated Vidya and her team was the manner in which he crossed various landscapes: climbed up the hill, and crossed villages, fields, highways and railway tracks. Vidya has done extensive research in the use of radio collars with GPS transmitter to monitor leopard movements. “Leopards belong to the cat family and are territorial animals with a strong tendency of coming back to their homes, often travelling hundreds of kilometres in the process,” she says.

At no point in his journey from Malshej Ghat to Sanjay Gandhi National Park did Ajoba attack any human. As Vidya says, “Leopards are equally scared of humans and try to avoid them as far as possible. But attack chances rise when a leopard is trapped or trans-located to a new area. The captured animal is scared, tense, thirsty, hungry, does not know the locality or where to hide. In fact, in Maharashtra it was seen that attacks on humans started near trans-location sites and by trans-located animals. So, all in all, trans-location is quite a pointless exercise, because even if you remove many animals there are more waiting to occupy the vacant territories. Most importantly, it could be really bad for the welfare of the animal and humans in the release sites.”

From 2002 to 2006, around 80 incidents of animal-human conflict have been recorded in and around Sanjay Gandhi National Park, of which 50-odd were fatal. “Leopards come into human settlements to search for prey which are easily available. They want the cattle, dogs and poultry, and avoid human interaction as far as possible,” says Vidya.

Since 2007, the number of deaths has reduced to three, and these mainly occurred due to a lack of awareness among the people living near the park, according to a report by park officials. Currently there are at least 21 leopards in a 104 sq km area. Park director Sunil Limaye says, “Earlier, leopards from distant forests and other districts outside Maharashtra were released into the park. But this practice has been stopped since 2006. This has resulted in a decline in the number of leopard attacks. Only if a dangerous situation warrants, leopards are trapped or captured.”

If trapping and trans-locating leopards away from human settlements is no solution, what are the ways to tackle the problems of coexistence? Experts point out that adivasis and other tribes have for centuries lived peacefully with wild animals in the jungles; it is only the villagers and urbanites who have settled recently near the periphery of the park and jungles who are ignorant about the ways of peaceful coexistence. Assuring that coexistence is possible, Limaye advises, “Leopards do not understand boundaries or park limits, and it is the people who should know how to live with them. In neighbouring areas — Aarey Milk Colony and Film City, Goregaon — there is a lot of litter. The surroundings should be garbage-free, as garbage from housing colonies, slums, stables and hotels attracts dogs which, in turn, become target for leopard attacks. They should also use high fences with barbed wires.”

He adds, “We are constantly organising awareness programmes with the residents, police officials, NGOs and authorities concerned.” To prevent encroachments by settlements, a huge wall is being erected along the park boundary for a length of 92 km. Looking at the broader social issue, Vidya concludes, “The best way of dealing with these animals is rooted in their behaviour. While people who have shared spaces with these animals know the dos and don’ts, the urban residents are unaware. It is best to learn how to live with these wild animals so that coexistence is peaceful for both.”

Big Cat in the neighbourhood

Mere sightings of leopard do not translate into danger.

Leopards avoid people, but may attack in self-defence if cornered. So never surround or provoke the animal.

Do not move alone in the dark as this will alert any leopard nearby, and it can mistake you for a prey.

If you need to go out in the dark, play some music on your phone to alert the animal to the human presence in its vicinity.

If the colony has a dog, ensure the kennel is far from the building, because leopards are attracted to barking dogs from even 100 metres away.  If dogs are protected, leopard incursions will decrease. 

Always keep surroundings free from garbage, which attracts dogs and they, in turn, attract leopards.

Courtesy: Mumbaikars for SGNP Project