- Leopards enter urban areas when forest cover reduces
- Leopard rescue centers house leopards that will be unable to fend for themselves in the wild
- Untrained people should not attempt to trap leopards on their own
What you do when a leopard, hits the streets? You call leopard rescue centers in Karnataka.
Well, for cities to grow, they need land. And since land is a limited resource, when a city grows, something else shrinks. In many instances, forests are shrunk to make space for urban skyscrapers.
One of the effects of our shrinking forest cover is the increased instances of leopards and other such wild animals being spotted in cities. This is where leopard rescue centers in Karnataka come into focus.
What are Leopard Rescue Centers?
In most instances, when young leopards are caught straying into urban areas, they are released back into forests. However, many of the leopards caught are too young, sick, injured or very old.
In such cases, they are unlikely to survive and be able to fend for themselves in the wild. Hence, they are sent to nearby Leopard Rescue Centers. From here they may be sent onwards to zoos or safaris.
Leopard Rescue Centers in Karnataka
Leopards in Karnataka are housed in 4 rescue centers attached to the:
| Rescue Center | Phone |
|---|---|
| Bannerghatta National Park | +91 80 2977 6466 |
| Mysuru Zoo | +91 82 1252 0302 |
| Tyavarekoppa Lion and Tiger Reserve | +91 94481 25892 |
| Atal Bihari Vajpayee Biological Park | +91 82 1243 2881 |
| Dr. Shivaram Karanth Biological Park at Pilikula | +91 82 4226 3300 |
What To Do If You Spot A Leopard In Your City
Places that are near forested areas have a higher risk of being visited by Leopards. One of the reasons for this is because Leopards are highly adaptable and may turn towards hunting dogs for their food. If you spot a leopard in your vicinity, here’s what you should and should not do.
- Go indoors and lock all doors and windows
- Tell other people around you to do the same and stay indoors
- Call the local police or Forest Department
- Do not move outdoors alone after dark if a leopard has been spotted in the vicinity
- If you are alone, play loud music to scare the animal away from you.
- Also, carry a stick with you.
- Do not try to trap the animal on your own
- If you sight a leopard when you’re outdoors, do not run or shout. Stay calm and in most instances, it will move away on its own.