Rajasthan's SOP to Tackle Human-Leopard Conflict

The Rajasthan Forest Department has rolled out a standard operating procedure (SOP) aimed at mitigating the escalating human-leopard conflict in the region, as stated by officials on Thursday.

Arun Prasad, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), emphasized that the new SOP seeks to ensure that rescue operations are conducted systematically and in a rule-based manner, fostering better coordination among forest officials, law enforcement, district administrators, and local communities.

Outlined within the SOP are guidelines that require the formation of rescue teams at the range level, setting accountability on deputy conservators of forests. It mandates crowd control, safety measures, and compliance with legal protocols, referencing provisions set forth under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, particularly before labeling any leopard as a man-eater. Noteworthy is the guideline prohibiting rescue operations post-sunset, prioritizing the animal's safe return to its natural environment.

(With inputs from agencies.)