Shirshendu Debnath
Not just North Bengal, South Bengal, too, has now become home to leopards- that's what Forest officials are claiming. So, if you happen to spot a leopard in the forests of Purulia, Bankura, or Jhargram, don’t be surprised. Sources in the Forest Department said that at least six leopards have already made their permanent habitat in various parts of Jangalmahal. Yes, you heard that right - ‘residential leopards'! Just like ‘residential elephants,’ this term is now being used by the department officials themselves. In other words, these leopards have practically become permanent residents of the state.
Late on Thursday night, a leopard’s carcass was recovered from Bankura’s Bishnupur. Preliminary investigations by the Forest Department suggest that the animal may have died after being hit by a vehicle. While the incident has caused some concern, officials believe it further confirms that leopards are indeed inhabiting the Jangalmahal forests.
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Speaking to Ei Samay online, Anjan Guha, DFO, Purulia, said, "We are certain that there are more than six leopards in Purulia alone. Earlier, we had evidence of leopards like Zeenat and others coming here. When these animals start frequenting the area, it means the habitat is becoming suitable for them. We believe the number is more than six, and it wouldn’t be surprising if it increases further in the future.”
Officials also claim that leopards migrate from Jharkhand through Purulia and at times, reach Bankura. Earlier, the carcass of a hyena was recovered from that region. Thus, it can be said that the biodiversity of Jangalmahal is improving.
The Leopard route: How are they entering?
The leopards are mainly moving along the Ayodhya–Dalma–Bandwan–Ranibandh–Simlapal–Bishnupur route (from the Purulia side). From Jhargram's direction, the movement has been recorded along the Jhargram–Katapahari–Belpahari–Banshpahari–Ranibandh corridor.
A large section of the forest, officials claim, in the coming days, visitors to Jangalmahal may very well get a chance to spot a leopard. Experts say that now the forests are thriving with prey like deer, wild boar, and small mammals-assuring a good food supply for them. Naturally, the leopards are finding it convenient to settle there.
South Bengal first recorded the presence of a tiger in 2018, when a Royal Bengal Tiger was captured on a Forest Department trap camera in Jangalmahal - confirming what had earlier been dismissed as mere folklore. Before that, there had been occasional reports of half-eaten carcasses of wild animals. Initially, officials were sceptical. But later, when a tiger appeared in camera footage, everyone was taken aback. Many locals were injured, reportedly by tiger attacks while entering the forest, and two Forest Department workers suffocated to death inside a vehicle during surveillance operations. Later that same year, on April 13, 2018, the carcass of the Royal Bengal Tiger was found in the Bagghora forest, just 26 km from Medinipur. While the sighting of the big cats as residents is a good omen, it also throws up an all-important question - is this majestic creature safe in the sal and mahua forests of Jangalmahal?
