IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Kittle, A.; Watson, A. | |
| Reasons against possible translocation of leopards (_Panthera pardus kotiya_) | |
| 2004 Full Book | |
This article is concerned with leopard (_Panthera pardus kotiya_) populations adjacent to or in the vicinity of Municipal areas and towns. During our ongoing leopard survey within the island we have been monitoring populations of leopard that coexist in areas close to human populated zones. The Dunumadalawa forest reserve (Wakara watte) located within the Municipal limits of the town of Kandy, Central Province, Sri Lanka is one such area. We conducted leopard research within this reserve from October, 2003 until May, 2004. There are many other areas in varying habitat zones that fall under similar categorizations as Dunumadawala and encounter the same issues addressed in this article. We are aware of the low-level human-leopard conflict that is occuring on the periphery of many reserve lands. This conflict is essentially in the form of some border-area residents complaining that the leopards within the reserve are periodically killing both livestock and pet dogs. Over the course of the eight months that we conducted our study in the Dunumadalawa area we have seen evidence of this conflict and had conversations with many area regarding this problem. It has been brought to our attention that some residents have called on the DWLC to do something about this perceived conflict and that the possibility of translocating one or more leopards from this reserve has been discussed. The reason we bring this topic into the public forum at all is to make it known that translocations as a possible solution should it be considered in any case is not a viable option, especially in a country where fortunately such conflict is low. We also set out recommendations that must be seriously considered in this time of 'development' in Sri Lanka if conflict is to be kept at a low and any escalation prevented. |
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