Mining in Mandya forests driving leopards into human habitat

MANDYA: With the decrease in green cover and increase in rampant quarrying activities, human-animal conflict is on the rise in

Mandya

district.

According to

forest

officers, 292 cases of wild animal intrusion and property-damage cases have been reported across the district in the recent past, and 471 in the last three years. Livestock are the primary targets for leopards — 178 cattle and other domestic animals have been killed in such attacks.

The rise in leopard population — both in hillocks and semi-forest areas in Mandya district — is causing unrest as people are fed up with leopards prowling in their areas, and frequently killing their livestock too.

While forest areas in Malavalli taluk are prone to elephant attacks, leopards are often being spotted in KR Pete and Nagamangala taluks.

Repeated appearance of big cats near villages has been creating constant fear among farmers, who are afraid to venture even out to their agriculture fields.

As many as 54 livestock were killed in

leopard attack

in the district in 2018, of which 46 were in Nagamangala alone. In Malavalli, 38 livestock were killed. The forest departments disbursed total Rs 50 lakh compensation to farmers who had lost their cattle since 2015.

The forest officers are attributing the development to the fast decrease in green cover and increase in quarrying activities in Mandya district. The region is comparatively a plain land, having little forest cover. “Leopards used to live and thrive in hillocks and semi-forest areas. These areas were not intruded by humans till the last few years. Now, quarrying units have made their way into deep forest and hillock areas, thereby grossly disturbing leopards. That is why they are riding human habitats,” said a senior forest officer, claiming anonymity.

Social activist Prof Hulkere Mahadevu said that unless reckless

mining

is stopped and ecological balance is ensured, wild animals keep riding into human habitat in search of food.