VADODARA: Leopard attacks have been organized scared citizens of many districts in southern Gujarat in suspended animation for several years, was finally able to get some help.
A study to understand and address the human-leopard conflict in Surat and TAPI has been initiated by the forestry department together with the department of zoology M S University.
The Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation (GFRF) has provided a grant of Rs 20 lakh for the first year-of – kind project titled, ‘Ecology of Leopard in relation to prey abundance and usage patterns of land in the district of Surat, Gujarat’.
The population of leopards have also been shot by 30 percent in the last 10 years in Gujarat which is posing serious challenges for co-existence with humans, “said Dr.
Chandni Valodkar of MSU department of zoology and a co-investigator on the project has been prepared and proposed a study for GFRF the , “This study is aimed at the conservation and management planning leopard in Surat and TAPI, and assessment of the current threat level.
We will carry out a census of leopard, studied the eating habits and determine their movement patterns to find mitigation measures to reduce the man-leopard conflict in Surat and TAPI, “Valokdar told TOI.
According to researchers, the study of population status, prey abundance, land use and movement patterns of species, inadequate especially from Surat district which reported high rates of leopard-man conflict.
Data to effectively protect and manage the species, socio-spatial required of diverse habitats and land use systems in which they occur, “he said.
Valodkar do research together with Dr.
Chandni Roy from the same department.
“This study will continue during the following years we will prepare a report and send it to GFRF.
The idea is to ensure the safety of humans and leopards in this region, “added Valodkar.