It was heartening to note that the leopard population is on the increase and it is an encouraging one. Residential places like Mulund and Aarey Milk Colony are facing regular visits of the man eating animal, disturbing the lives of common men. Forty one leopards were identified across the width and breath of the peripheral area. The data base should carry an exact record of animal and the survey should be a proper one. This is a sad state of affairs as the authorities in charge does not have the correct count at Sanjay Gandhi National Park, near Mulund should be in a position to have the count and make the spotted wild cats to go round that area rather going out for food and maul the residents in the vicinity. Forty one wild cats in an area of 140 square kilometer carry security risk. This is not the first time that such thing is happening and the authorities in charge of these animals should make them wander inside an iron railing so that it will not harm the public in any way. Time and again, we hear that the man eater wander in the garden and the forest areas nearby giving the public sleepless nights. It is high time that the authorities pay heed to this fact and make a permanent solution before the situation goes out of hand and see many more human deaths in the process. We have to preserve species like Lion, Tiger and Cheetah; they should roam freely but not at the expense of human life. That is my clarion call.
S. Abhisheck R. Swamy
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
