Date:11/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/11/stories/2007111158300100.htm

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Panther habitat under threat

Santosh Patnaik

VISAKHAPATNAM: The panther population in the wild is under threat with concrete jungle culture gaining momentum following unprecedented real estate boom. Not only panthers, other wild animals are also facing a grave threat. Visakhapatnam, gifted with sun-kissed beaches, lush green hillocks and a gorgeous and nature’s preserve – Kambalakonda reserve forest – just a few minutes drive from the city, is fast losing its beauty with the Government deciding to sell lands to corporate realtors to raise Rs. 1,000 crores to bridge budgetary deficit.

Forced to stray

The recent spotting of female panther at Kapulauppada garbage dumping yard, maintained by the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, is not a stray incident.

Two years ago, a panther strayed into a poultry farm in thickly populated Visalakshinagar and mauled the watchman. A leopard had come on a ‘sojourn’ to Nandagirinagar in Akkayapalem a few years ago. In fact, a couple of panthers which came out of the forest to the national highway, were run over by vehicles. “Wild animals stray into residential areas as and when their habitat comes under threat due to massive construction. If there is enough food and water, why would they stray into foreign land,” retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests R.K. Rao told The Hindu.

Forests officials say panthers are fond of dog meat. The recent camping of a panther for a couple of days at Kapulauppada was mainly to consume dog meat, said Conservator of Forests P.V. Padmanabham. He said hundreds of stay dogs thrive on city waste at the dumping yard. Sometimes, dead dogs are also left there. “Hence, the panther in question could have come there to eat dog meat,” he said.

At present, the Kambalakonda forest has seven panthers. After the death of a couple of panthers in accidents on the highway, the Forest Department put up a barricade to prevent the entry of panthers into the highway. Increasing vehicular traffic and depletion of vegetation are also taking a heavy toll on wildlife population.