Seventh leopard cub spotted in Jaipur's Jhalana reserve this year

JAIPUR: A female leopard was spotted with one cub by the trap camera in the Jhalana forest area on Friday. The mother, known as Basanti, is a fully grown adult leopard and is usually spotted in the periphery of Jhalana. This is the seventh cub that has been spotted in the area this year, taking the big cat population to 39.
According to experts, Basanti was first spotted in 2015 and is around eight years old, though it is not confirmed if the leopardess has given birth before. This recent cub appears to be a couple of months old.
A recent study revealed that the density of leopards is too high for an urban jungle. With new cubs being regularly born, the sub-adults are getting pushed out. In search of territory, these wild cats venture out and go missing or get killed in territorial fights. With the leopard population on an upward trajectory, there is an expected spillover to adjoining areas of the reserve. Ideally, one male leopard requires at least 5 sq km area. The department is planning to develop the surrounding forest areas, including Galta, which is over 700 hectares. The Jhalana forest area is spread over an area of 20 sq km.