Karnataka | Leopard task force rescued 160 big cats in 2 years; has no facility to house them

Mysuru: The leopard task force (LTF) of the Mysuru circle of the forest department, formed two years ago, has rescued 160 leopards from February 2023. But it is yet to have its own permanent office or space to house cages or equipment.

It functions from a temporary office at Aranya Bhavan here.

Around 50 per cent of the rescued leopards were injured by snares and due to other reasons. But the department doesn’t have its own facility for veterinary examination and operations, including microchipping and ear-notching. Officials are undertaking procedures within the cage.

Rescued leopards have to be kept under observation for up to three months in some cases. But the space at the Chamundi rescue, rehabilitation and conservation breeding centre of the Mysuru zoo, at Koorgalli, is inadequate. 

The facility is basically a conservation breeding centre for Indian gaur, Indian grey wolf, dhole and lion tailed macaque. It houses and treats old and sick animals which cannot be displayed at the zoo.

Want of space

Rescued tigers, leopards, elephants and birds are also housed there. Rescued leopards are released into the forest immediately for want of space at the Koorgalli facility.  

Existing leopards would already have their territories and if the population increases, the big cats may automatically come out for survival, experts said. Many times, leopards get hurt while being shifted to the Bannerghatta rescue centre in Bengaluru. The proposal to establish a new leopard rescue and rehabilitation centre (LRC) at a cost of Rs 70 crore to treat and house injured 100 leopards, sent by conservator of forests Malati Priya, is pending with the government.

The centre is meant to enhance the survival rate of leopards rescued from Bandipur, Nagarahole, BRT tiger reserve and Kodagu, Mysuru and Mandya districts. It will also help address man-animal conflict, Malati Priya said.

92-acre land identified

Mysuru wildlife circle is getting Rs 2.5 crore of CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) funds to build a compound wall around the 92-acre land identified for the centre at Yelawala in Mysuru taluk. Infosys and Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran, which are facing leopard problem on their campus, are ready to fund the construction of buildings.

Safe habitats

Deputy conservator of forests I B Prabhu Gowda said, “With an increase in irrigation canals, sugarcane cultivation has increased. The sugarcane fields have become safe habitats for leopards. There are about 3.5 lakh vacant sites around Mysuru and layout developers have made provision for drainages. These drainages have also become safe havens for leopards. They come out, prey on dogs and meat disposed of unscientifically and get back to their hideouts.” 

At the proposed LRC, officials plan to have an integrated rescue vehicle-cum-ambulance, basic forensic, diagnosis and housing facilities besides a treatment and transit centre, quarantine centre, post-mortem room with deep freeze facility and carcass incinerator.