A detailed plan has been revealed to protect a 15-kilometre area of the Aravalli hills, which goes from the Bandhwari landfill to Damdama Lake in Gurgaon. This plan includes creating a leopard park in Behrampur village. The aim is to take care of this natural area and provide a safe home for leopards while also allowing people to enjoy the beauty of the Aravalli Hills through the leopard park. It is a great effort to protect the environment and give people a chance to connect with nature.
The forest department, district administration, Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), and Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) are working together on this project. Their main aim is to make a 15-kilometre-long jungle path that joins the two places we talked about earlier. This path will let people enjoy the beauty of the Aravalli Hills and the leopard park while making sure the environment stays safe. They're teaming up to encourage nature-friendly activities and protect the environment.
The area in question faces a constant threat from private landowners who often violate construction regulations. To address this issue and to prevent leopards from venturing into urban areas, the idea of the leopard park was born, drawing inspiration from the successful Jhalana Leopard Safari Park in Jaipur. The primary goal is to decrease the occurrences of leopards entering urban spaces.
The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has taken an additional step by announcing the start of a feasibility study to explore the possibility of introducing a leopard safari within the park. This study could potentially allow visitors to observe leopards and other wildlife in their natural habitat, contributing to wildlife conservation and raising awareness about these majestic animals. The collaborative efforts of various government agencies are essential to safeguard the region from encroachment while promoting coexistence between urban development and wildlife conservation.
The need for this initiative has become more evident in recent years because of various human-wildlife conflicts. These incidents include the heartbreaking event in 2016 when a leopard was lynched in Mandawar. Additionally, there have been numerous hit-and-run accidents that led to the unfortunate deaths of 12 leopards over a 15-year span. These conflicts and tragedies highlight the urgency of creating a safer environment for both leopards and people. The Leopard Park project aims to mitigate such conflicts and provide a protected space for these magnificent creatures to thrive.
According to the reports, an organization will be chosen to carry out a thorough study of the Aravalli hills. The results of this study will be presented to the Aravali Rejuvenation Board for further action. The Aravali Rejuvenation Board, led by the deputy commissioner, protects the Aravali hills from activities like mining and environmental harm. This process is essential to ensure the preservation and restoration of the Aravalli region, safeguarding it against potential threats and degradation.
The upcoming leopard conservation zone will have watering holes solar pumps for water, and advanced camera traps to watch the leopards and native grasslands for their habitat. Visitors will also enjoy a watchtower for wildlife viewing and an interpretation centre to learn about the leopards and their environment. It is a place where leopards can thrive, and people can have a great time while being educated about these amazing animals.
To gain important knowledge for the Gurgaon project, GMDA officials have organized a trip to the Jhalana Leopard Park in November. They've invited representatives from different government departments and development authorities.
The main aim of GMDA is to encourage responsible eco-tourism and wildlife education without harming the natural environment. Additionally, involving the local community in preserving native plants and animals is expected to reduce conflicts between people and wildlife while creating job opportunities. This initiative seeks to strike a balance between conservation, education, and local development.
Leopards often move between the Aravalli hills in Gurgaon and Faridabad, the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in Delhi, and the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan. But because these areas are rapidly becoming cities with buildings and people, the leopards' homes are getting smaller, causing more problems between leopards and humans.