The Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), a vast green expanse spanning 104 sq km across Mumbai and Thane, is now home to 54 leopards, as per the 2024 census, Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik informed the legislative council on Tuesday.
Naik noted a steady rise in the leopard population due to ongoing conservation efforts and protection of their natural habitat. The numbers have gradually increased over the years: 35 in 2015, 41 in 2017, 47 in 2018, 46 in 2019, 52 in 2023, and 54 in 2024, reported news agency PTI.
He also addressed past human-wildlife conflict incidents, stating that in 2017, a boy and a girl lost their lives in leopard attacks, followed by a similar tragic incident involving a girl in 2022. In each case, Rs 20 lakh was provided as compensation to the victims’ families, in line with legal provisions.
Naik said there is sufficient prey for leopards in the park. The government has decided to plant more fruit trees to ensure there is enough food for herbivores that are also leopards` prey, reported news agency PTI.
Pravin Darekar (BJP) said there are cases where leopards have attacked children living on the periphery of the park, noting they go out of their houses to answer nature`s call. There is no boundary wall for the park, he said.
Naik said there is a proposal to build a cement wall along the border and some of it is already in place. There is also a proposal to build a peripheral road within the park and have CCTVs installed so that patrolling and monitoring can be more effective.
It has also been decided to use satellite technology to monitor the animals in the park, the minister said, but did not elaborate further.
There are 22 tribal padas (settlements) in the SGNP and it is proposed to rehabilitate 2,000 families out of the park and build houses for them. It has also been decided to use 90 acres of land at the Aarey Colony in Mumbai to settle the original inhabitant families, he said, according to news agency PTI.
The minister said he has issued directions to fence the padas so that leopards cannot enter houses at night, and to make provisions for toilets.
(With inputs from PTI)
