Urgent steps must for proposed Tiger Safari at Dumna to save leopards
| Date :01-Jan-2020 |
By Ashish Rajput :
Proposed Tiger Safari project at Dumna Nature Park needs attention of the competent authorities to soon implement the project for protection of leopards’ territories. Development of Tiger Safari requires enclosure of forest area which already has rich wildlife density and natural biodiversity. Tiger Safari will also prove a big milestone for promotion of tourism. Disappointing is the fact that forest density in the district has been shrunk following the encroachments and extension of residential areas and situation is vulnerable for the wildlife. Divisional Forest Officer Ravindra Mani Tripathi, talking to ‘The Hitavada’, informed that the department has old records of existence of leopards in reserved forest areas of Khamaria, Barela, Dumna and Nayagaon areas.
Forest Department is committed for protection of forest area but enclosure of forest is not the under jurisdiction of a single department. Forest area in Jabalpur can be enclosed for protection of wildlife with the initiative of higher authorities and the Government. According to wildlife experts, forest area in and around Jabalpur is an ideal place for leopard habitat but frequently spotting of leopard near residential areas is vulnerable for man and animal conflict and endangering the wildlife.
There is a need of conservation of remaining forest area and developing an enclosure for desired protection of wildlife. Jabalpur is naturally blessed with forest, wildlife and geological sites but absence of concrete initiatives has deprived the district from its due benefits and protection of natural treasure. The city is unique in the country for having a nature park under municipal corporation limit. District has good forest cover in Kundam, Panagar, Khamaria, Dumna, Barela and Bargi while Naya Gaon, Rampur and Madan Mahal has rocky forests.
Entire area is old territory of leopards and has good density of cheetals, crocodiles, pythons and other wild animals. Frequent spotting of leopard near residential areas created a panic amongst residents and also increased the threat of man and animal conflict. Forest Department started a search operation to rescue the leopard but failed in trapping it.