(IN) Forest dept to set up three leopard safaris in state

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http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1222153

 

 

The state is all set to get its first leopard safari. The forest

department

has decided to set up such safaris at three places in the state -- near

Belwandi in Ahmednagar district, at Manikdoh in Pune district and at

Sanjay

Gandhi National Park, Mumbai.

 

The Central Zoo Authority passed a proposal of the state government in

this

regard last week. The actual implementation of the proposal will begin

after

due approvals from the Supreme Court.

 

" The tiger and leopard population in the state has grown considerably

and

this has resulted in man-animal conflict. To avoid this, there is an

urgent

need for such arrangement for the animals captured from the wild, " said

state forest minister Babanrao Pachpute. According to information, 60

leopards captured from various parts of the state, would be

rehabilitated in

these safaris.

 

The government will spend Rs10 crore on the safaris, first of which will

come up at Belwandi in Shrigonda taluka of Ahmednagar district, he

added.

 

" Yashomala Enterprises, Pune had submitted a proposal to establish

leopard

safaris in the state, which has been approved by the CZA, " said B

Majumdar,

principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), wildlife.

 

 

Nilesh Bhanage

" Hands that help are holier than lips that pray. "