New Delhi: The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has approved the proposal to set up four leopard rescue centres in Uttar Pradesh under the Project Leopard.
These will be opened at Chitrakoot, Maharaniganj, Meerut, and Pilibhit cities, an official report said.
The State Tiger Reserves cannot keep leopards as tigers disallow them from entering their territory. They force leopards to live near populated areas next to forests and kill domestic animals for food.
A forest official said, “Whenever we catch a leopard, the major problem is to keep them in a safer place. The Lucknow, Gorakhpur, and Kanpur Zoos are overcrowded, and we have no choice but to release the big cat in the wilderness despite its invariable return to hunt in villages. Hopefully, these rescue centres can prove fruitful.”
Uttar Pradesh Chief Conservator of Forest Pawan Kumar Sharma said the project was started because of the growing population of big cats and increased man-leopard conflicts in the state. “We will shelter leopards roaming around residential areas and release them in the wild once they become healthier.”
The rescue centres fall under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) scheme, with an approved state budget of Rs. 5 crores each. The CZA has also approved the design and the master plan of the rescue centre enclosures.
(Avya Mathur)