252 wild animal cubs reunited with their mothers in western Maha

In joint efforts with various non-governmental organization (NGO) partners, the forest department has successfully reunited at least 252 wild animal cubs, including 178 leopard cubs, with their mothers in western Maharashtra since 2007. Although the success rate of reunions is considerably high, there were a few reunions that could not be orchestrated, conservation NGO officials said.

Wildlife SOS has reunited at least 110 leopard cubs with their mothers since its founding in 2007. As sugarcane cultivation expands, farmland has now become leopard habitat, leading to frequent encounters between humans and leopards, especially during the harvest season from December to March. .

Nachiket Utpat, public relations officer at RESQ, said: “Since September 2020, when the facility started functioning, we have successfully reunited at least 142 animals, including leopards, jackals, jungle cats and rusty cats.”

While several NGOs are working with the forest department for conservation, two NGOs from western Maharashtra, especially from Pune, have a major share in wildlife conservation in western Maharashtra. These NGOs are Wildlife SOS, which runs the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center (MLRC) in Junnar, and RESQ Charitable Trust, which runs its facility in the Bavdhan area of ​​Pune district. Both NGOs have made significant contributions to the reunification of cubs with their mothers, especially leopard cubs.

In addition, 25 birds have been reunited so far, including bulbuls, barn owls, lapwings, silverbirds, munias, white-eyes, mynas, sparrows and parakeets. All the reunions have taken place from Sindhudurg to Jalgaon, across the western belt of Maharashtra, Utpat said.

Leopardesses, known for their elusive nature, often choose sugar cane fields as their birthplace due to the protective environment provided by the dense vegetation. However, when farmers start clearing the fields during harvest, unsuspecting leopard cubs are often discovered, prompting immediate intervention from Wildlife SOS and the forest department.

Moreover, leopard cubs have been found to fall into open wells, further increasing the urgency of conservation efforts. After receiving a tip-off about a stranded cub (or a cub that has fallen into an open well), the forest department, along with Wildlife SOS, sends expert teams to assess the situation, conduct medical examinations and facilitate reunions with the mothers. Wildlife SOS has even implemented the Open Wells’ Conservation Project under the leadership of the Junnar Forest Division, covering 14 wells in Maharashtra to prevent tragic incidents and combat habitat fragmentation, said Amit Bhise, assistant conservator of forests at the Junnar Division.

The process of reuniting the cubs with their mothers is critical because it allows the cubs to acquire essential survival skills from their mothers, including hunting and adapting to the wild. Without maternal guidance, these cubs face a major challenge in their journey to independence, says Mahendra Balu Dhore, project manager at Maharashtra, Wildlife SOS.

Why do some reunions fail?

While most animal reunions are successful, there are a few that fail due to several reasons including the mother abandoning the weaker cubs etc. Santosh Chavhan, ranger at Paud Forest Range, said: “At least three to four attempts have been made for reunions. . In the event of a failed reunification, the cubs will be transferred to our NGO partner(s) for lifelong care.”