Panthers refuse to go away

Man-animal encounters can only increase, admit well-placed sources in the forest department. There are at least 150 panthers in and around the Jambughoda and Ratanmahals sanctuaries in Central Gujarat; their foodbase is grossly inadequate; their numbers, too, are on a perennial upswing.

The chances of panthers straying into human habitats cannot be brighter than it is now: Apart from the shrinking food base, the poor monsoons have failed to recharge the animals8217; watering holes.

And as if panthers moving out in search of food wasn8217;t bad enough, humans often invite trouble by venturing into the sanctuaries looking for wood and small animals like hares, a tribal delicacy.

All these are official admissions.

What officials hate to admit, however, is the fact that they have been sitting over the problem for almost two years now see box.

That is why, though officials of all ranks, including Waghodia range officer Janak Jhala and Vadodara circle conservator Rajeeva, acknowledge panthers have been sighted in Vadodara and Panchmahals districts 8212; especially in the parts bordered by forests in Chhotaudepur and Halol talukas 8212; they also admit that there is little chance of tackling the menace effectively right now.

8220;Such plans take time. But they are in the final stage8221;, says State Chief Conservator of Forests Wildlife Bharat Pathak, while refusing to set a deadline by which time they would be ready. Incidentally, work on the plans began all of two years ago.

Other senior officials, however, admit that the department requires men and machines urgently if it is even to begin to tackle the man-animal problem. 8220;Accountability is important8221;, they say, adding that herbivores and carnivores needed to have adequate food bases and drinking water facilities.

Centre8217;s Plan
Admitting that plans for a man-animal balance in Vadodara-Panchmahals are still at a nascent stage, Principal Chief Secretary, Forests, A P Mishra says his department is working on building large-scale breeding centres near carnivore sanctuaries. 8220;Senior officials are likely to visit the Serengati and Masai national parks in Tanzania and Kenya soon as they face similar problems8221;, he says, claiming that he was on the verge of finalising a plan to tackle the worrisome man-animal encounters.