leopard safari
Rescue Centre for trapped leopards
MUMBAI, JULY 9/2004
In view of the recent leopard attacks in the Mumbai suburbs, the Maharashtra Government has decided to build a Rescue Centre for leopards at Borivali here which could be converted into a Safari Park.
The move comes in the wake of the policy decision not to shift the trapped leopards, captured from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) at Borivali in North Mumbai, to other parts of the State.
The Forest Department has asked the Union Forest and Environment Ministry to sanction a Rescue Centre in Mumbai.
A centre already exists at Junnar in Pune district where feline attacks had assumed alarming proportions with the leopards straying into agricultural fields.
Nagpur-based Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) K Subramanian, who is here along with other experts, told UNI that 40-50 acres of land along a quarry around Borivali National Park has been identified for the Rescue Centre for trapped leopards from the SGNP and other places.
The Rescue Centre would house animals taken from the circus and even some injured wild animals, he added.
The Rescue Centre would cost around Rs 70 to 80 lakhs and ``we hope to get a part of it sanctioned urgently,'' Mr Subramaniam said.
He said there are five Rescue Centres in the country and the Mumbai one would have a capacity to house around 30 animals.
Additional Chief Secretary (Forests) Ashok Khot told UNI that there are 24 leopards -- 10 male and 14 female -- in captivity in the Borivali National Park.
Of these 24 leopards in captivity, the Forest Department has proposed to shift at least ten leopards to the Rescue Centre at Junnar.
Meanwhile, Forest Minister Surupsing Naik, who reviewed the situation in the park after last month's 14 leopard attacks which claimed 10 lives, handed over compensation cheques of Rs 1.95 lakhs to kins of two victims. -- UNI
MUMBAI, JULY 9/2004
In view of the recent leopard attacks in the Mumbai suburbs, the Maharashtra Government has decided to build a Rescue Centre for leopards at Borivali here which could be converted into a Safari Park.
The move comes in the wake of the policy decision not to shift the trapped leopards, captured from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) at Borivali in North Mumbai, to other parts of the State.
The Forest Department has asked the Union Forest and Environment Ministry to sanction a Rescue Centre in Mumbai.
A centre already exists at Junnar in Pune district where feline attacks had assumed alarming proportions with the leopards straying into agricultural fields.
Nagpur-based Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) K Subramanian, who is here along with other experts, told UNI that 40-50 acres of land along a quarry around Borivali National Park has been identified for the Rescue Centre for trapped leopards from the SGNP and other places.
The Rescue Centre would house animals taken from the circus and even some injured wild animals, he added.
The Rescue Centre would cost around Rs 70 to 80 lakhs and ``we hope to get a part of it sanctioned urgently,'' Mr Subramaniam said.
He said there are five Rescue Centres in the country and the Mumbai one would have a capacity to house around 30 animals.
Additional Chief Secretary (Forests) Ashok Khot told UNI that there are 24 leopards -- 10 male and 14 female -- in captivity in the Borivali National Park.
Of these 24 leopards in captivity, the Forest Department has proposed to shift at least ten leopards to the Rescue Centre at Junnar.
Meanwhile, Forest Minister Surupsing Naik, who reviewed the situation in the park after last month's 14 leopard attacks which claimed 10 lives, handed over compensation cheques of Rs 1.95 lakhs to kins of two victims. -- UNI
Comments