Mumbai: A week after a
leopard killed a 7-yearold girl near a slum patch in Borivali national
park, residents are stocking up on crackers to scare the animal away.
A resident from Shankartekdi slums in Mulund, who sighted a leopard on Friday, said they had also installed halogen lamps around their homes hoping that the illumination would keep the cat away.
Mustaq Baba, who had left home very early, took pictures of the leopard even as he froze on seeing the animal from a distance. “The leopard has been spotted several times and we’re living in fear,” said Baba.
“After last week’s attack, we chipped in money and installed around 10 halogen lamps at locations where it was pitch dark. We switch them on at dusk. We’re not letting kids move out alone.”
He added that people in the area are also stocking firecrackers to scare away the leopard. “It’s our lives at stake. We had to come up with these plans. Let’s hope the government does something for us,” he told Mirror.
Officials from Sanjay Gandhi National Park say they cannot trap a leopard that has been sighted in a forest area which is encroached upon.
“The residents of slums must understand is that garbage littered around attracts dogs that in turn bring in the leopards,” said a senior forest official.
Chief conservator of forests Sunil Limaye said officials have been patrolling the area. “The attack on the girl could be because the leopard mistook her for a canine as she was squatting near the garbage dump when she was attacked.
A resident from Shankartekdi slums in Mulund, who sighted a leopard on Friday, said they had also installed halogen lamps around their homes hoping that the illumination would keep the cat away.
Mustaq Baba, who had left home very early, took pictures of the leopard even as he froze on seeing the animal from a distance. “The leopard has been spotted several times and we’re living in fear,” said Baba.
“After last week’s attack, we chipped in money and installed around 10 halogen lamps at locations where it was pitch dark. We switch them on at dusk. We’re not letting kids move out alone.”
He added that people in the area are also stocking firecrackers to scare away the leopard. “It’s our lives at stake. We had to come up with these plans. Let’s hope the government does something for us,” he told Mirror.
Officials from Sanjay Gandhi National Park say they cannot trap a leopard that has been sighted in a forest area which is encroached upon.
“The residents of slums must understand is that garbage littered around attracts dogs that in turn bring in the leopards,” said a senior forest official.
Chief conservator of forests Sunil Limaye said officials have been patrolling the area. “The attack on the girl could be because the leopard mistook her for a canine as she was squatting near the garbage dump when she was attacked.
http://www.punemirror.in/article/4/20120724201207240901589371225a3a5/%E2%80%98We-fire-crackers-to-scare-away-the-leopard%E2%80%99.html
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