The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly discussed the increasing presence of leopards in residential areas of Jaipur during the Budget Session. Concerns were raised about the frequent sightings of leopards in populated localities, leading to fear among residents. In response, the state government announced the upcoming launch of a dedicated wildlife helpline and enhanced monitoring measures.
Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma addressed the issue by acknowledging its seriousness and revealing plans to introduce a wildlife helpline, numbered 1926, within a month. This helpline will allow citizens to report wildlife movements, particularly of leopards in residential areas, for quicker responses and better monitoring.
BJP MLA Kalicharan Saraf suggested implementing security protocols similar to those in Maharashtra to manage urban wildlife movement effectively. The Minister assured the Assembly that they would study protocols from Maharashtra and other states to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) by the end of the current financial year.
Leopard sightings have been a recurring issue in Jaipur, with instances reported in various areas like the MNIT campus, Civil Lines, Jagatpura, and Gopalpura Puliya. The Forest Department has taken preventive measures, including setting up Quick Response Teams (QRTs) on 24-hour alert and deploying a trained wildlife tracker from Ranthambore.
To prevent wildlife movement towards human settlements, the department is constructing a one-hectare enclosure within the forest, introducing chital, and creating new water holes. Additionally, surveillance efforts have been bolstered with the installation of 20 extra camera traps, bringing the total to 60. These measures aim to reduce leopard movement in residential areas and address human-wildlife conflict in Jaipur effectively.
