4 leopards and 1 lioness die in 2 months at Sanjay
Gandhi National Park , Mumbai
Author: Pawan Sharma - pawan.resqink@gmail.com
Photo Credits - RAWW archives
16/11/2014
A female leopard succumbed to death in the rescue
center at SGNP (Sanjay Gandhi National Park) early morning yesterday 15/11/2014. Sources
from the forest department confirmed the death of a female leopard kept in
captivity at the rescue center near the captivated lion cage in the park.
This is the fifth big cat within last two months,
earlier lioness Shobha and three other leopards had died in unnatural
circumstances. Officials at the national park however tried to defend
themselves with some or the other reasons. However wildlife lovers close to the
park claim that errors are from the side of the concerned authorities in-charge
of the well being of the captivated animals.
A wildlife enthusiast close to the park said
"The captivated animals are kept in very poor conditions, the enclosures
are very small for a leopard to be kept in captivity. The concerned vet is very
ignorant towards the captivated animals and looks least interested when it
comes to discussions on the captivated animals. I tried to approach him many
times but I was never entertained not only by the vet but even higher officials."
National park authorities are now entertaining consulting
vets from other places which indicates that they are not self equipped with
their own management. Big cats in the country enjoy the highest level of
protection no matter weather in wild or captivity. Keeping a track of the wild
ones is next to impossible but captivated wildlife can be maintained very well
with a systematic and sincere approach towards their well being.
All the wildkinds are property of the state and a
state is made up of people. It is very important on the part of the concerned
authorities to supply a good flow of information and awareness about the
wildkinds kept in captivity. Regular reports of their health check-up's and
well being should be made public as they are the tax payers from where major
funds and resources are generated.
However it is found that the national park
authorities behave in a very secretive manner when it comes to such matters. A very biased
attitude from the side of the national park is being observed since a year.
Influential and VIP's have access to all the happenings of the park but many
wildlife activists and volunteers who want to help the national park not only
the animals but also the staff in various welfare and development projects from
grass root to high levels are left disappointed.
Other than this there are many issues within the
park authorities and management itself, a source from the forest department who
requested not to disclose his identity said "It is difficult to work for
the real welfare of the animals due to several departmental complications. We
feel sorry for the animals but at the end of the day things are in the hands of
our bosses who have the power of making and taking decisions."
"We forest officers especially representing
the wildlife wing earn our bread and butter because of the forest and the
wildlife it supports, it is very disappointing to see this happening in the
work environment" he added.
"According to me the work of vets and animal
keepers in which they have failed at the park is to make sure that all the
animals in captivity are doing well. The animals are not and will never be
happy in captivity but as we humans have captivated them we should take good
care of them. Daily visits and check-up's of all the captivated animals should
be a practice which is never done. Injured and distressed animals should be
properly and seriously treated which is not happening here" he concluded.
The national park is seen taking participation in
many initiatives which will he adding to the revenue of the park but the core
areas and basic and most prior duties are not being done is what the
observation that can be made after following up with the happenings in the
park.
If this will be the condition of one of the most
unique national park in the world, protected forests of our country's financial
capital, captivated wildlife of one of the richest city Mumbai then
conservation and wildlife welfare is going to face more tougher times.
