Delhi: Leopard spotted at Asola Bhatti wildlife sanctuary

The increased frequency of leopard sightings is an indication that conservation efforts are paying off, experts said.

There has been a fresh sighting of a leopard at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary by a forest patrol late Saturday night, officials said.

The leopard caught on camera by a forest patrolling team on Saturday night. (Sourced)

“The leopard was captured on camera by a patrolling team. We believe there are three to four leopards presently living inside the sanctuary. Earlier, a leopard sighting was a rare occurrence but is becoming increasingly frequent in the past two to three years,” a forester said, requesting anonymity.

The increased frequency of leopard sightings is an indication that conservation efforts are paying off, experts said.

Multiple images of leopards were also captured on camera traps last year, following the launch of a mammal census at the sanctuary in March 2021. The census, carried out by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in collaboration with state forest department, captured 16 other mammals on camera traps, including striped hyena, hog deer, black buck and spotted deer.

Habitat improvement and reduced human interference are likely reasons for leopard signing, a second forest officer said. “Broken boundary walls were fixed and plantation of native shrubs, grasses and trees are attracting more herbivores,” he said, declining to be named.

“More watering holes have been created and specific plantation is being done, especially in degraded areas where people would frequent earlier. Boundary walls through which cars and bikes entered the sanctuary have been fixed and this has also reduced the human footprint inside, allowing herbivores to thrive. This eventually attracts the top-level predators,” the official said.

The ongoing study has revealed the presence of at least two leopards, with more expected to be either present or frequently coming into the sanctuary, according to Sohail Madan, centre manager at BNHS.

“At least two different leopards were captured on the camera traps and a combination of rejuvenation efforts and reduced human footprint inside has helped create a more stable ecosystem for leopards,” said Madan, adding that there may be up to five leopards in the sanctuary.

Delhi is no stranger to leopard sightings as the animal often ventures into the capital through the Aravallis. Delhi’s southern, central and northern ridges are also extensions of the Aravalli landscape, with the southern ridge proving to be the most common location where leopards are seen.

Last year, a leopard was recorded on CCTV cameras in southwest Delhi’s Najafgarh area, not too far from the southern ridge, while in 2019, one was sighted in the Tilpath Valley Biodiversity Park, also a part of the Aravallis.

Multiple pug marks and sightings have been made at Asola since 2015, with sanctuary officials saying the sightings are becoming more frequent. “This could be down to a reduction in human interference and enrichment of the habitat here,” Madan said.

In December 2016, Delhi’s northern part also recorded a leopard sighting, which seemingly entered the capital along the Yamuna floodplains and reached the Yamuna Biodiversity Park in Wazirabad.