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A first in world: Rajasthan to get leopard reserves
Rachna Singh | TNN | May 31, 2017, 07.09 AM IST

JAIPUR: Jhalana Reserve Forest in Jaipur will spearhead 'Project Leopard', a first of its kind conservation effort in the world to be launched across eight conservation reserves and sanctuaries across Rajasthan.

With that the Jhalana reserve will be upgraded with a multi-crore budget including an outer periphery wall and designated as a Leopard Reserve.

The blue print of the project is ready with the forest department and would be launched in the first week of October that also happens to be the `Wildlife Week'.

Besides that, the project spread across 1,926.80 square km of sanctuaries in the state, aims at mitigating human-leopard conflicts and conserving the leopard population. Conceived on behalf of standing committee on wildlife by Valmik Thapar the project was also CM Vasundhara Raje's 201718 budget announcement. The estimated cost of the project is likely to be Rs 5-8 crore and a Leopard Task Force comprising national and local experts would soon be constituted for the policy execution of Project Leopard.

"It is the first effort in the world at conserving leopards by reducing conflict between the animal and the man. The core of our mission is based on the crying need to create a better relationship between man and leopard in Rajasthan and secure leopard population which otherwise could dwindle and eventually die out. This unique scheme will enhance the status of the Leopard and boost wildlife tourism across Rajasthan thereby impacting hugely on local economies," said Valmik Thapar, wildlife specialist.

The project Leopard will run in eight sanctuaries; Jaisamand Sanctuary in Udaipur, Bassi Sanctuary in Chittorgarh, Shergarh Sanctuary in Baran, Kumbhalgarh Sanc tuary-Raoli Todgarh Sanctuary (stretched from Ajmer to Udaipur), Mount Abu Sanctuary-Sundamata Conservation Reserve, Jhalana Aamagarh Conservation Reserve, Jaipur, Jawai Conservation Reserve, Pali and Khetri Bansyal Conservation Reserve, Jhunjhunu.

As for the funding apart from dovetailing with existing government schemes, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds, cess on near by tourism infrastructure, and funds generated from charging of surcharge entry fee to these areas will be utilized for funding of the project. "The project will enhance the protection of leopards and the habitats they frequent resulting in better natural prey density and less dependence on livestock. In the first five years, aim will be to restore habitats and increase leopard numbers to 1500. By taking appropriate measure, leopards will be prevented from straying into human dominated landscapes and this will in turn minimize the negative impact of blue bull and wild boar populations. Project Leopard will enhance the potential of wildlife tourism and generate revenue for the local communities. This will boost the habitats in the 8 selected sites and motivate the forest and wildlife staff. Van Dhan Yojna will dovetail into this project in order to reduce conflict as this is a primary objective of the Yojna" reads the project proposal. Reply