Due to the increase in the number of leopards in the Junnar area, there has been a demand for sterilization of leopards. About. utmost of the timber area is mountainous. There are numerous irrigation systems in the area. These are substantially Dimba, Manikdoh, Pimpalgaon Joga, Vadaj, Chilhewadi, Chaskaman and Yedgaon irrigation systems under the Ghod, Kukadi design. Due to the vacuity of water, long- term horticultural crops similar as sugarcane, banana, grapes, pomegranate etc., are grown on a large scale.
The crops give safe sanctum for the leopards to hide for a long time. A large number of creatures are domesticated due to the vacuity of water and fodder. creatures and catcalls get food fluently. As a result, the number of wild creatures, including barracuda , has increased in the horticulture areas near mortal habitation. The niche of leopards is substantially near mortal agreements. The incidents of mortal- leopard conflict in Junnar timber division have been adding every time for the last 24 times.
The demand for boxing the leopards arose due to the nonstop entry of leopards into mortal habitations in Junnar timber division since 2001 and the increase in incidents of attacks on individualities and tamed beast. thus, a leopard sanctum was made functional in an area of 4.05- hectare in the nursery area located at Manikdoh near Shahaji Sagar Dam on Junnar- Nimgiri road.
The leopard sanctum is assigned with keeping the boxed interned leopards in the natural niche for a period of time until they're released, to give medical treatment to the injured leopards, to give day- to- day care to the leopards that aren't suitable to be released into the natural niche. The Central Zoo Authority has approved the Manikdoh Leopard Shelter. Wildlife Multi-speciality Hospital has been made functional at the sanctum on 22 nd April 2022.
A aggregate of 85 leopards and their pins have been greeted through the sanctum between 2017 and 2023. A aggregate of 102 leopards have been saved between 2019 and April 2024. Between 2018 and 2024, 225 leopards- 108 accidental and 117 natural- have failed. In the last 23 times, about Rs, 297 has been paid to the citizens for mortal, beast and crop loss due to attacks by wild creatures including leopards.
The Junnar timber division comprises the four taluks of Junnar, Ambegaon, Khed and Shirur in the northern part of Pune quarter. The timber department has 611.22 sq km of timber land. The timber land is managed through seven timber ranges- Junnar, Otur, Manchar, Ghodegaon, Khed, Chakan and Shirur. Seven timber range officers, 33 lumberers, 96 timber guards and 59 timber labourers work under the Deputy Conservator of timbers. Two posts of timber guards and 10 posts of timber guards are vacant.
A aggregate of 303 deliverance brigades are working in the Junnar area. The number of leopards in the Junnar area has gone up to about 400. As a result, mortal- giant conflict has boosted. Coops aren't enough to keep interned leopards in harbors. At present, there are about 52 leopards boxed at the center. There are limits to new bones. The center will be expanded. About 12.69- hectare area of the Water coffers Department will be transferred to the Forest Department.
Finances for the purpose have been handed over to the Forest Department. Due to the increase in the number of leopards in the Junnar area, the attacks of leopards on humans including domestic creatures have increased. Cattle suffered heavy losses. husbandry has come delicate due to the rush of locusts. Locals have criticized the timber department for the incident. Against this background, people's representatives and locals were demanding sterilisation of leopards to control their population.
Against this background, the Junnar timber department had proposed to the state government to sterilise the leopards. still, the state government has transferred the offer to the Centre. The state government has transferred a offer to the Centre. The Wildlife Protection Act needs to be amended.
For this, the opinion of the Central Zoo Authority and the Supreme Court will have to be considered. Since this is the first offer in the country to emasculate wild creatures, along with environmentalists, the Central Forest Department will also play an important part in this decision. thus, it'll take some time to take a decision.
