Rajasthan Forest Department to Track Leoprds with GPS Collars Amid Rising Urban Encounters

Jaipur, Rajasthan: The increasing presence of leopards in residential areas of Jaipur has prompted the Rajasthan Forest Department to initiate a pilot project to track select leopards using GPS-enabled radio collars. The collars will allow officials to monitor their movements and mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

Leopard Sightings in VVIP Areas

In recent weeks, leopards have been spotted entering high-profile areas, including former MP Ramcharan Bohra’s colony in Durgapura and Minister Suresh Rawat’s residence in Civil Lines. On December 8, CCTV footage captured a leopard inside Bajaj Nagar’s AG Colony. Such incidents have raised safety concerns and triggered immediate action from wildlife authorities.

Pilot Project Details

Under the pilot project, two to three leopards will be fitted with specialized radio collars. The collars, equipped with GPS telemetry, will track the animals’ movements in real time. Chief Wildlife Warden Arun Prasad stated that the project aims to focus on leopards frequently roaming near urban fringes and areas with a high risk of human encounters.

Authorities revealed that the collars are designed to be lightweight and minimally invasive, similar to those used on tigers. If approved, Rajasthan will join Maharashtra and Gujarat as the third state in India implementing a structured wildlife management plan using this technology.

Jhalana Leopard Population and Strategy

Jhalana, Jaipur, is home to an estimated 45 leopards. The first collars are expected to be fitted on dominant males and young leopards with large territories. Wildlife expert Jaidev Singh highlighted that the project could leverage insights from a recent Maharashtra initiative in Junnar, where a male leopard equipped with a camera collar captured over 1,000 clips, providing rare insights into its behavior.

Leopards and Tigers: Close Relatives

Experts noted that leopards and tigers belong to the big cat family, sharing a common ancestor from approximately 6 million years ago. This lineage also includes lions, jaguars, and snow leopards under the Panthera genus. Understanding leopard behavior through technology will aid conservation efforts while ensuring urban safety.