PANAJI
Despite the increasing instances of human-animal conflict cases involving leopards, domesticated cats, dogs, pigs do not feature in the wild cat's favoured killing wish-list, a study has revealed.
A study 'Diet of Leopards Panthera pardus fusca inhabiting protected areas and human-dominated landscapes in Goa, India' conducted by Bipin S Phal Desai, Avelyno D’Costa, M K Praveen Kumar and S K Shyama of the state Forest Department and Goa University's Zoology department has also revealed that Goan leopards feast on wild boars, which is their number one kill both in protected forests and near habitated areas.
The study was based on leopard droppings collected and analysed in protected forest areas as well as habitated areas which have witnessed human-animal conflict in recent years.
"Analysis of 55 scats collected from these areas revealed that wild boar constituted a major proportion of the prey biomass (29 percent), followed by chital (25 percent), Indian Crested porcupine (15 percent), barking deer (13 percent), gray langur (5.6 percent), Bonnet macaque (5.4 percent), sambar (4.1 percent), and Indian hare (3.1 percent)," the study claims.
"Domestic animals (dog, pig, cat, and goat) constituted only a minor portion (33 percent) of the leopard diet. The dog was the most preyed-upon domestic animal (17 percent) followed by pig (11 percent), goat (2.7 percent), and cat (2 percent). Of the nine wild prey species observed from scat analysis, six were identified in scats collected from human-dominated areas," it further adds.
"It can be interpreted from our data, that although leopards were reported close to human habitations throughout the year, their dependence on domestic animals was low," it also states.
The issue of human-animal conflict assumes relevance in Goa, especially in wake of rampant deforestation and clearing of forest cover for construction of residential complexes as well as government development works.
In the last state assembly session, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the Goa government was expediting the process to classify the wild boar as 'vermin', citing the damage the foraging species causes to agriculture and horticulture crops.
The study also states one of the major causes for leopards straying dangerously close to human habitations was during the pre and post breeding seasons.
"This pattern correlates with the breeding pattern of leopards when wandering males and sub-adult cubs (which have just left their mothers to fend for themselves) come in conflict with humans," the study claims.
"The conflict during the January and February months could be mainly due to the movement of females in the post-birth phase. These leopards, which continuously change their location for the safety of the young cubs, come in contact with humans employed in cashew plantations and other agricultural activities," it further adds.
