Forest Dept Declares Leopard Zones in Heart of Guwahati. Check Locations Here
First Published: 20th July, 2024 20:08 IST
Warning signs have been erected near GMCH, GMCH Guest House, Kamalnagar roadside, and Rajib Nagar to raise awareness among the locals about the presence of leopards
The Assam Forest Department has designated the Narakasur Hills, around the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), and hills around Fatasail Ambari as a “leopard-bearing area” due to frequent sightings of leopards.
According to the department, the road connecting Kahilipara and GMCH, along with the surrounding hilly terrain, has been identified as a potential habitat for leopards.
Warning signs have been erected near GMCH, GMCH Guest House, Kamalnagar roadside, and Rajib Nagar to raise awareness among the locals about the presence of leopards. This decision has sparked fear among the locals.
It may be mentioned here that Guwahati’s interconnected hillocks, including Garbhanga, Kamakhya, Gaushala, Jalukbari, Maligaon, Kahilipara, and Narakasur hills, serve as natural habitats for leopards.
Experts attribute the leopards’ incursions into Guwahati due to its shrinking natural habitats and dwindling prey availability in nearby forests.
Although there has never been an official census to quantify the leopard population in Guwahati, the city’s surrounding hillocks have long provided a sanctuary for these majestic cats.
Experts suggest that during colonial times, seventy per cent of Guwahati was covered with hills and forests. These elevated areas, such as the hillocks near Kamakhya temple, Gotanagar, Jalukbari, and Hengerabari Reserve Forest, served as secure habitats for leopards.
Until the 1980s, incidents of leopard-human interaction in Guwahati were minimal. However, as human settlements encroached upon these hills, leopard sightings also increased.
Through the study of leopards’ pugmarks and scat, experts have identified a robust leopard population in the Gaushala area of the city.
Additionally, significant populations exist in Kamakhya, Narengi-Satgaon, Jalukbari, Maligaon, Kahilipara, and Narakasur hills surrounding Guwahati.
Also Read: Leopard seen roaming near Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, triggers panic
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