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Jaipur Leopard Crisis: MLA Raises Alarm, Forest Minister Announces Helpline

The issue of frequent leopard sightings in Jaipur's residential areas was raised in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, creating concern among residents. In response, Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma announced the launch of a dedicated wildlife helpline (1926) within a month to enable faster emergency reporting. The Minister also detailed existing measures, including 24-hour Quick Response Teams and increased camera trap surveillance. An SOP based on models from states like Maharashtra will be finalized this financial year to manage the conflict.

Key Points: Jaipur Leopard Sightings Prompt New Wildlife Helpline & SOP

  • Leopard sightings create fear in Jaipur
  • Dedicated helpline 1926 to launch in a month
  • Quick Response Teams on 24-hour alert
  • SOP to be modeled on Maharashtra's protocols
2 min read

Rising leopard sightings in Jaipur trigger debate in Raj Assembly, Minister announces helpline

Rajasthan Assembly debates rising leopard sightings in Jaipur. Forest Minister announces wildlife helpline 1926, QRTs, and new SOP to manage human-wildlife conflict.

"A wildlife helpline -- 1926 -- would be launched within a month. - Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma"

Jaipur, Jan 29

The growing incidence of leopard movement in residential areas of Jaipur resonated in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly on Thursday, as the issue was raised during the ongoing Budget Session, prompting the state government to announce the launch of a dedicated wildlife helpline and enhanced monitoring measures.

Raising the matter during Question Hour, BJP MLA Kalicharan Saraf expressed concern over frequent leopard sightings in populated localities of the state capital, noting that incidents were being reported almost daily and had created a climate of fear among residents.

He pointed out that despite recurring instances of human-wildlife conflict, Jaipur lacked a dedicated helpline for swift emergency response.

Responding to the concerns, Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and announced that a wildlife helpline -- 1926 -- would be launched within a month. The helpline will enable citizens to report the movement of wildlife, including leopards, in residential areas, facilitating faster response and effective monitoring.

During a supplementary question, Saraf suggested adopting security protocols on the lines of Maharashtra, which is often cited as a model for managing urban wildlife movement.

Assuring the House, the Minister said that systems followed in Maharashtra and other states would be studied and a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) would be finalised and implemented within the current financial year.

Sharma informed the Assembly that leopard movement had been recorded multiple times in Jaipur over the past year.

According to official data, leopards were sighted on seven occasions in areas such as the MNIT campus, Civil Lines, Jagatpura, Gopalpura Puliya and adjoining localities.

Detailing preventive measures, the Minister said that on December 2, 2024, the Forest Department constituted two Quick Response Teams (QRTs), which are currently on 24-hour alert and conducting regular night patrols in sensitive zones. A trained wildlife tracker from Ranthambore has been deployed, while six local residents from the Jhalana-Amagarh belt have received specialised training to monitor leopard exit points from forest areas.

To curb wildlife movement towards human settlements, the department is developing a one-hectare enclosure within the forest with plans to introduce chital, and has created six new water holes. Surveillance has also been strengthened with the installation of 20 additional camera traps, taking the total to 60.

Forest officials said these measures are expected to significantly reduce leopard movement in residential areas and mitigate human-wildlife conflict in Jaipur.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good move by the minister, but announcing an SOP within the financial year feels like a delay tactic. This is an urgent safety issue. Why not fast-track it? Learning from Maharashtra is wise, but we need action now, not just studies.
K
Karthik V
The real issue is habitat encroachment. We keep building colonies closer to the Jhalana forest. Creating water holes and enclosures inside the forest is a smart, long-term solution to keep the animals *in* the forest.
S
Sarah B
Training local residents to monitor exit points is a brilliant community-based approach. It creates local expertise and jobs. Hope this model is successful and can be replicated elsewhere.
A
Aman W
The camera traps and night patrols sound promising. But the public needs awareness too. Many people don't know how to react if they see a leopard. The helpline number should be widely advertised on radio, TV, and social media.
M
Meera T
It's a delicate balance. We must protect people, but also remember these leopards are losing *their* homes. The solution shouldn't just be about trapping and removing them. The ecological measures mentioned are a step in the right direction.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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