Jaipur: Bumper sighting of leopards, hyenas & bulls at Nahargarh

JAIPUR: Volunteers savoured the bumper sighting of leopards and other wildlife in Nahargarh wildlife sanctuary as the weather remained clear during the 24-hour waterhole census, which concluded on Saturday. Other than some hiccups due to the flash flood, the waterhole census went on smoothly. As per the department records, there are five leopard cubs and 10 adult leopards, including three females and seven males in the sanctuary encompassing an area of about 52sq km.
Hope and Beyond chairman Dr Joy Gardener, who participated in the census, with his team said, “It is a good sign that leopard population is steadily increasing in the sanctuary. However, there is dire need to protect the forest as it is degrading at a rapid rate due to villages inside. The forest department with limited resources is struggling to prevent human disturbance”.
Environmentalists also demanded that ‘project leopard’ should be initiated at Nahargarh wildlife sanctuary. Other than the leopard, the department recorded porcupine (35), hyena (30), fox (5), blue bull (248), peacocks (1,440) and mongoose (50) at Nahargarh. While the census does not give an accurate count, it does indicate the trend in the wildlife population, claimed officials. Though rain played a spoilsport and waterhole census was cancelled at Jhalana reserve, officials claimed that this park was becoming a nursery for leopards. This year has seen a rapid growth in leopard population at the Jhalana Leopard Safari Park. The most recent sighting was of leopardess Jalebi with a cub captured on trap camera, the official added.
This is the fifth leopardess to give birth in the park since January and now the population stands at 22 adults and 10 cubs, according to the forest officials. Increase in the number of leopards also comes as an affirmation to the wildlife department’s efforts which launched the country’s first ‘Jhalana Leopard Reserve’ under ‘Project Leopard’ initiated by the state government.